Majority Of Americans Say Their Company Culture Is ‘Broken'

Many Americans feel their company culture is not what it should be, according to a new study by Blu Ivy Group. It’s a further indication that Americans’ personal and professional priorities have shifted since the Covid pandemic.

Three-quarters (74%) of employed Americans could cite at least one aspect of their company culture that is “broken.” The top answers cited were: leadership/management (28%), lack of trust between staff and management (23%), lack of work/life balance 23%, and an unsustainable workload (21%).

About a third (35%) of those surveyed believe their workplace/employer is ‘Culture Conning,’ defined as a practice by which companies market themselves as having inclusive, employee-centric workplace cultures to recruit employees, but fail to deliver on that promise. Younger respondents (18-34) are significantly more likely to believe this (41%) than those aged 35-54 (34%) and especially those 55+ (27%). One-in-five (22%) employed Americans, including three-in-ten (31%) under the age of 35, have left a position or a company due to ‘Culture Conning.’

Employees were asked what they value most about a company’s work culture. 31% ranked ‘purpose - feeling like the work I do is making a difference’ among their top three responses. Purpose trumped vacation time (30%), management that’s responsive to the needs of workers (28%), opportunities for professional advancement and growth (22%), and ability to work remotely (19%) as top valued company work culture points. ‘Purpose’ was only topped by benefits (38%) and flexible work hours (33%.)
 
“As a cornerstone of any employer brand strategy, companies need to take a close look at what their talent will receive in addition to perks and benefits. It’s essential for employers in the post-pandemic workplace to connect the work of talent to both purpose and impact,” said Stacy Parker, managing director and co-founder of the Blu Ivy Group.

Americans surveyed said they could be lured away from their current employer with:

• More vacation time, 42%
• Ability to work remotely, 36%
• Better training and personal development, 33%
• Ability to work closer to home, 25%