Dilution of corporate culture 'genuine concern,' white paper warns
Employers are at risk of inadvertently diluting their organisational culture as they implement flexible work arrangements, according to a white paper.
Organisational culture refers to the "informal combination of shared behaviours, values, and attitudes that develop when people spend time together."
"In the simplest terms, organisational culture is 'the way we do things.' Culture is an intangible feeling that leads employees to fit or feel like outsiders in a strange land," said Cheryl Kenwright, people and culture manager at Strategic Pay.
But she warned that some managers may inadvertently dilute this organisational culture when implementing flexible working practices in their teams. They can do this through:
- Lack of trust
- Communication breakdown
- Inequitable treatment
"So, the dilution of organisational culture can be a genuine concern when employees are working flexibly while interacting in new and different ways that organisations have less control over," Kenwright said in the paper.
Preventing this requires the consistent application of flexible working practices across the organisation, according to Kenwright.
"HR professionals and business owners need to ensure that managers' communication is clear, that they establish trust with employees, create social interaction opportunities, and treat their employees equitably," Kenwright said.
The white paper delved further on how flexible work can dilute organisational culture, and how employers can prevent and address the problem. Grab your own copy here.
