What Are the Key Hallmarks of a Healthy Corporate Culture?

Human resources affect all aspects of business, especially when it comes to company culture. Morale, brand reputation, and productivity are critical hallmarks of what makes a healthy, positive workplace, and three vital traits are key indicators — visible leaders, social responsibility, and guidance.

However, the definition of company culture has changed since the pandemic, and what makes a healthy culture today is not necessarily the same as a few years ago. While HR leaders are starting to reorganize their ideas of company culture, some challenges must be overcome.

Visible Leaders, Social Responsibility, and Guidance

A healthy corporate culture has visible leaders who set the tone and the example. Their everyday behaviors support their words and beliefs and show a consistent commitment to their work. Furthermore, an organization that is socially responsible often has a healthy workplace culture. A socially accountable business acts out in a manner that benefits society and contributes to the welfare of the community and environment. Whether it’s the people or the organization itself, those with a healthy workplace culture provide guidance. They lead culture and people, helping them understand the difference between what is acceptable, and what is not.

Examples of Healthy Corporate Cultures

The only thing that truly gives an organization a competitive advantage is its people, and people equal culture. The best businesses with healthy corporate cultures attract and retain the best talent. They help other companies on the right path by creating standards and norms and when you examine these various organizations, a theme resonates throughout. That being said, here are three organizations that are doing culture right.

• Microsoft – As one of the world’s largest companies, Microsoft undoubtedly has unique challenges when it comes to managing its abundant workforce. Even so, this company promotes working well with other large companies and is widely known for its philanthropy, diversity, and workplace experimentation. The company also does a compressed workweek that fosters inclusion and belongingness.
• Zoom – Zoom’s work culture is unique as it actually has an internal team called the happiness crew. It is a culture that lets you be surrounded by people while cultivating fun and productivity. Zoom also has an open work environment and sought-after benefits, including competitive pay, unlimited time off, fitness reimbursement, and more.
• Google – When it comes to healthy work culture, few can outdo Google. Google believes that happiness is a science, so not only do they make their corporate culture fun, but they focus on open communication and clear core values. Google hires for skill, character, and incredible mobility within the company.

What Makes a Healthy Corporate Culture Today?

Before the pandemic, the common mindset in most companies, including the employees, was “I have to work so I can live.” During the pandemic, there was an incredible shift where people started to reevaluate their priorities and what they should be. This shift extended to corporate culture, which is likely forever changed.

When the “Great Resignation” happened, people started to demand more flexibility, which has changed the entire work landscape. While standards such as salary also evolved, companies started to embrace the importance of equity, diversity, inclusion, belonging, and understanding the family-first mentality.

Challenges that Need Addressing

One widespread consensus related to healthy corporate culture, yesterday and today, is workplace collaboration. From the HR perspective, this collaboration was beneficial during the pandemic. Without people joining their efforts together, collaborating, and working together, staying afloat amid Covid restrictions would have been impossible. HR has had to pivot in innovative ways to still foster this collaboration among work from home and hybrid work situations.

With the new landscape of hybrid and work from home scenarios, organizations must instill their proper core values, a sense of belonging, and corporate culture traits that center around diversity, equity, and inclusion. This is why open communication is key, as it allows employees to share their thoughts, feedback, and ideas. Companies with well-run open communication policies enable employees to share their views without feeling like their jobs are at risk.

Whether you’re the CEO or HR, it is vital to recognize the importance of workplace culture. A company may have all resources, software, tools, and infrastructure, but it is the people that make or break it. On the surface, your business might be booming, but if the office’s environment or the “vibe” isn’t great, your success is not sustainable. This makes it vital that you make a conscious effort to create and promote a positive culture in your workplace.

Written by Sandy Kaminski.

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