The majority of respondents to a CHG Healthcare survey said managers were most responsible for establishing company culture—even more than the executive team. (Credit: treety/Shutterstock.com)
With so many changes in work life wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic, employers have grappled with a multitude of new challenges over the past several months, from managing remote work-related fatigue to encouraging engagement and a sense of belonging. These efforts have been expended in the service of answering an age-old question in a new era: What do employees really want in a workplace culture?
To provide a clear picture of that answer, staffing provider CHG Healthcare conducted a survey of over 800 U.S. workers over a 16-day period in July and August. These workers ranged in age from 18 to 71, and were asked about their attitudes towards working from home, mental health, and issues of diversity and inclusion.
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Culture definitely matters: 84% of women and 75% of men surveyed said they had left jobs due to an undesirable company culture. But what does a good company culture look like?
When asked about the top five characteristics of a good company culture, the top choice for respondents was workplace environment. Growth and development opportunities took the second spot, and access to leadership came in third. An equal number of respondents chose transparent communication and having a meaningful job for the fourth and fifth spots.
Workplace environment was also front of mind for the majority of respondents (41%) considering what comprises company culture. Treatment of employees came in second with 27% of respondents, followed by company values at 15%. Perks rated dead last at .5%.
Who do employees think is in charge of company culture? The majority of respondents (33%) believed managers were the ones most responsible for establishing a successful culture. The second choice (28%) was the executive team. CEOs followed with 23% of respondents. "This goes to show that investing in managers who are aligned with the company's vision and who are committed to creating a healthy workforce will enhance a company's culture even further," the survey declared. "This research also supports the need for executives to engage with their employees to foster a good culture."
When evaluating leaders, respondents were not fond of micromanagers, with 16% choosing "not a micromanager" as one of the top choices in ideal leadership characteristics. The possibility of mentorship also rated highly with 15% of respondents. Overall, however, trustworthiness took the top characteristic (20%) employees look for in leaders.
There was a tight race for the top five things employees say are important in a job, with 1% separating each choice. Salary took the top spot, followed by a flexible work schedule. Company culture took the third spot, with benefits and growth opportunities rounding out the top five.
Which benefits do employees wish their companies offered? Free health insurance was the most important. Unlimited time off ranked second, with free meals, bonuses, and gym membership reimbursement tying for the third spot.
Most employees (54%) felt their company cultures remained the same during the pandemic, with 26% reporting a decrease in culture and 20% saying their workplace culture improved. Those who reported an improvement in culture said it was primarily due to increased transparency and communication, while those reporting a decrease found poor leadership support to be the main reason.
The pandemic did take a toll on employees' mental health in a number of ways. The change in work environment was cited the most (21%), followed very closely by employment uncertainty (19%), lack of connection with coworkers (18%), and an increased workload (17%).
On the subject of diversity, 70% of respondents said their current employers focused on making their companies diverse and inclusive. At the same time, only 50% reported having a diverse leadership, and 82% said having diversity in leadership was key to having an impact on company culture. The survey also revealed a majority of respondents (60%) felt it was important for companies to be involved in social justice causes.
"In the future," the survey stated, "creating a successful culture will require finding the balance between meeting employees' needs in the office and addressing concerns outside of it."
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Richard Binder
Richard Binder, based in New York, is part of the social media team at ALM. He is also a 2014 recipient of the ASPBE Award for Excellence in the Humorous/Fun Department.
