4 mistakes companies are making with their workplace culture

April 28, 2023 12:35 PM

Employers may think they're cultivating a supportive workplace culture for employees, yet sometimes, those efforts fall short.

Whether it's by turning a blind eye to an employees' personal struggles, such as a divorce, or establishing a dress code that could feel restrictive to some, this week's top stories dive into the inadvertent ways employers could be isolating employees from feeling accepted at work.

Even when employers want to show appreciation by giving a company-branded gift, that effort may not come across as intended. Research shows that 40% of those coffee mugs and water bottles end up in landfills. Make sure employee morale doesn't go to the same low place.

Check out these stories for advice on how to recalibrate your culture to maximize the impact on employees — and overall business success.

Skip the corporate swag

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Time to rethink company swag: 40% of corporate gifts end up in landfills

Employers spend $242 billion dollars per year on corporate gifting, according to retail and technology data insights platform Coresight Research. But 40% of corporate gifts — including hoodies, mugs, plastic trinkets like lanyards and sunglasses — are unwanted and usually end up in the trash and landfills, according to ING. Is this the best way to connect with employees, and what could be more effective? An executive from sustainable gifting platform Loop & Tie weighs in.

Nix restrictive dress codes

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Adjusting your workplace dress code for return-to-office plans

The pandemic has certainly sped up the business casual trend, but even pre-pandemic, 79% of employers said they had a casual dress code or no dress code at all, according to a 2019 survey by Randstad. At the time, 33% of employees would quit their job if forced to wear more formal work attire. Establishing a casual dress code is an easy and no-cost way to improve employee morale — if done right. A data scientist from job search site Adzuna shares his top tips.

Support employees through hard times

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Divorce coaching benefits help employees better manage a separation

As divorce rates continue to creep up, the impact on work will be hard for employers to ignore. An employee will lose 40% of their productivity for the six months before their divorce and up to five years after it, due to factors like absences for court and legal appointments, along with the impact from emotional distress, according to a report by the Nashville Business Journal. For some, the experience is so overwhelming that 10% will actually quit their job due to divorce. Yet a few thoughtful benefits can make a difference, and establish long-term loyalty from employees. The president of coaching service Divorce Right reveals what works.

Rethink your approach to long-term career growth

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Invest in a culture of belonging and your retention rates will soar

To take an "apprenticeship" to a "stayship," employers must design a work-based program that leaves workers with a strong sense of identity and a foundation for lasting growth in the field. Stayships go beyond hard-skill training, by providing non-traditional talent with more thoughtful support and mentorship throughout their career journey, and not just at the start. An executive from training platform General Assembly shares how these programs can promote inclusivity at work.