Why managers may be diluting organisational culture amid flexible work

They may not want to hear it, but many managers are responsible for the decline of organisational culture in workplaces that are implementing flexible work arrangements, according to a new report from Strategic Pay.

The report underscored that the behaviour of managers influence how flexible work is implemented across organisations.

"As HR professionals, we need to understand and acknowledge that some managers may inadvertently dilute the organisational culture when implementing flexible working practices in their teams," the report reads.

How organisational culture declines

It revealed that managers can dilute organisational culture amid flexible work by not trusting their employees enough.

"This lack of trust between managers and employees can harm the organisational culture and result in a lack of collaboration and teamwork.”

Flexible work arrangements can also impact communication between managers and employees, according to the report.

It "forces managers and employee" to communicate differently, where scheduled conversations and meetings can be perceived as additional workload for managers.

"This can lead to a breakdown in communication causing a lack of clarity and misunderstanding that in turn harm the organisation's culture," the report read.

Inequitable treatment is the last practice that can dilute organisational culture amid flexible work, according to the report.

"If some employees are allowed to work from home more than others, then this may lead to resentment and a weakened organisational culture," the report read.

"Managers who prefer to exercise controlled monitoring of employees can intensify dissatisfaction, erode trust, and increase their intention to leave."

Addressing the issue

Strategic Pay underscored that organisational culture depends on how flexible working practices are implemented and the specific circumstances of the organisation and employees.

According to the paper, proper implementation, management, and monitoring of flexible working practices can help ensure there is a positive impact on productivity.

"HR professionals and business owners need to ensure their managers' communication is clear, that they establish trust with employees, create social interaction opportunities, and treat their employees equitably," the report read.

Read more on how to improve organisational culture amid flexible work in this free white paper.