Company Culture Change Examples

Company culture in the workplace is about the employee experience, but it is also about expectations: what employers expect from workers, what workers expect from their employers, and what society expects of the companies that serve them. As values and societal outlooks change, so too do our expectations for how companies operate and what their company cultures look like.

Since 2016, millennials have become the largest generation in the U.S. workforce, and there a lot of new expectations that millennials have brought with them into corporate life:

• A sense of purpose
• More autonomy and flexibility
• More transparent communication
• Better work-life balance
• More mentorships and less traditional boss roles
• More fun and authenticity
• A sense of community in the workplace
• More attention to mental health and wellbeing

If companies are going to thrive in 2021, they need to be privy to the things that workers value, and they need to drive a culture change that resonates with the changing values we’re seeing in society.

Below is everything you need to know about how to create a vibrant company culture that will resonate with your employers. 

Reasons for organizational culture change

There are a ton of reasons why organizational culture change is necessary for most companies out there. As we alluded to above, one of the main reasons is that the expectations of workers are changing. 

According to a recent Qualtric study, 67% of workers said they would be willing to take a paycut if it meant mentorship opportunities, and 80% said that an emphasis on personal growth is the most important company culture quality.

Workers want opportunities to develop their careers and their personal lives, they want purpose and passion, and they want to create a healthy work-life balance that allows them to thrive at home and at work. 

What we’re seeing today is a workforce that is demanding more diversity in the workplace, more growth opportunities, and more room for personal growth —  these are all relatively new expectations that might not fit the typical company culture today. If companies are going to thrive as younger generations enter the workforce, they’re going to have to adapt. 

Adapting your company’s culture

So how do you know you’re making the right company culture changes? While there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer, there are a few best practices and strategies to go about ensuring a successful transition

• Ask! Employees value transparency, and asking them about what kind of changes they’d like to see is a win-win: employees feel heard and valued, and you gain insight into what workers want. 
• Start with the core values. If you look closely at your core values, you can redirect the company toward the kinds of things that matter: diversity, inclusivity, wellbeing, flexibility, and personal growth.
• Address those resistant to change. It might be uncomfortable at first, but staying firm on your new company values might mean having to address resistance from managers and employees.
• Implement a recruiting strategy that reflects your values. If you hire new employees who exemplify the values you want in your company, you’re helping to ensure that your core values are maintained into the future. 
• Re-emphasize the importance of health. Mental health has been a stigma at work for decades, and implementing a robust health benefits plan that focuses on mental health and wellbeing can communicate important healthy-living values that employees really care about. 

Don’t worry if you’re still unsure on how to implement the above changes and suggestions to your company culture. Below we’ll get into some great contemporary company culture examples that you can model. 

[Read More: Workplace Culture Statement Examples]

Powerful organizational culture change examples

Sometimes the best way to learn is by modeling. Below we’ve culled together some of our favorite examples of healthy and robust company cultures. These are companies who have earned a reputation for having a healthy, supportive, and inclusive company culture.

1. Twitter - Not too long ago, workers at Twitter popularized the tech organization for having one of the most vibrant, fun, and community-minded company cultures. Frequent rooftop events, in-house yoga classes, and free meals were some of the highlights that kept workers raving about their perks. 
2. Zappos - Zappos went above and beyond in their onboarding process by offering new employees $2,000 to quit after their first week of training if they didn't think the job was right for them. With great benefits and an emphasis on their core values, Zappos makes sure their employees know that their company culture model is different from the rest. 
3. Costco - Yes, Costco is one of the biggest companies in the world, and it doesn’t have the appeal of the big tech companies. Still, Costco puts its workers first by offering lots of vacation time and a pay average (approximately $20) that is well over the federal minimum wage. Costco also provides a health benefits program for more than 80% of its workers. 
4. NextJump - NextJump had a crazy idea, and it worked! They split their employees into groups and got them to compete against one-another to reach fitness and wellbeing goals. The team that worked out most each week earned $1,000, allowing their employees to get a little more healthy, a little more wealthy, and a lot more energized and productive at work.
5. Whole Foods - Whole Foods is another company with an awesome health benefits program. All employees at Whole Foods are entitled to a 20% discount on all products. If they promise to stay healthy, however, they bump that discount up to 30%.

There are a number of ways that you reinvigorate and cultivate a nurturing, inclusive, and supportive company culture that your employees will value and remember. By following strategies mentioned in this article and mirroring some of the most notable company cultures out there, you can be well on your way to driving company culture changes that are lasting and celebrated.

[Read More: Culture Change in the Workplace]

Drive company culture change through health and wellbeing with Grokker

One of the most popular company culture change strategies is a shift that focuses on health and wellbeing. Why is health and wellbeing the way to drive your culture change? Because employees that feel healthy and better about themselves are happier, and happier employees are more productive and satisfied with their work.

Health and wellbeing are definitely about personal growth and development, but they can also drive a sense of community and feeling of belonging. With Grokker, you can build closer and stronger teams by implementing team challenges, incentives, and competitions.

Try the demo today to see if Grokker is right for you.