Only 15 percent of 1 billion full-time workers worldwide are satisfied with their jobs and engaged with their daily responsibilities. Their unhappiness also affects company growth, revenues and productivity. More than $500 billion is lost annually due to unengaged, unhappy employees who do not feel a sense of belonging.
Organizations should listen to ideas, thoughts and suggestions of employees when implementing new policies and strategies to increase attraction, retention and nurture business continuity. Research shows companies that foster a culture of caring reduce turnover by creating space where employees feel a sense of belonging.
A culture of caring exists in work environments where every employee is valued equally and receives fair treatment and people feel connected with company values, objectives and mission. In a culture of caring, employers acknowledge the authenticity of their employees and ensure they feel comfortable and happy with their assignments. They build a tight-knit community that enables company culture to thrive and resonate with people, which is necessary for reaching the target audience and appealing to qualified candidates.
A culture of caring also plays one of the central roles in encouraging employees to stay with the company and contribute to its growth.
Benefits of a culture of caring
- Increases productivity
When people work in welcoming, equitable and fair work environments, they become more eager to contribute to team results and company objectives. They enjoy their tasks and want to go the extra mile. Companies that fail to accommodate their employees’ needs will struggle with low employee performance and morale. A culture of caring is also about adjusting the approach to different workers and identifying how to spark their motivation. For instance, employees prefer to work alone 86 percent of the time. However, interactivity may increase their productivity by 89 percent.
- Boosts engagement
According to Gallop, 64 percent of employees are disengaged at work. They deliver minimal effort and mentally check out when they’re in the office. That typically happens because employees are burned out, bored and don’t trust their employers. A bad company culture also causes people to loathe their jobs and work for the paycheck only. Employers should create environments where workers feel motivated to immerse themselves in their tasks.
- Improves workplace connections
Positive interactions play a significant role in job satisfaction. Without, employees might feel isolated, lonely and left out. A culture of caring thrives on tight-knit connections. Employers should seek ways to bring people together and help them develop a sense of belonging.
- Helps build community
Human-centric workplaces make it much easier to build a community of like-minded people and ensure people work together toward team goals. That makes them feel more comfortable and leverage different perspectives to generate innovative solutions.
- Encourages employees to be their authentic selves
Employees who feel uncomfortable in their companies often hesitate to share their opinions, ideas and thoughts. Instead of being their authentic selves, they hold themselves back and avoid expressing viewpoints. Employers who cultivate a culture of caring encourage everyone to be who they are and show what makes them unique.
- Workers are more likely to trust employers
Companies that make people feel unhappy, afraid and neglected typically fail to gain their employees’ trust. As a result, workers may avoid participation in meetings or reaching out to their employers when they encounter problems.
- Higher revenues
An efficient culture of caring leads to more productive workplaces and engaged employees. Thanks to that, companies hit their targets, improve performance and reach higher revenues.
- Competitive advantage
Employers no longer have leverage in the labor market due to the talent shortage. Job seekers can be selective and wait until they find the best opportunities. It’s essential to build an inclusive and happy workplace that welcomes everyone and offers top-notch advantages.
Risks of not building a culture of caring
- Employees will struggle to find joy in their jobs
The goal of every workplace isn’t only to reach financial and business targets, but also to have happy and productive employees who find joy in their jobs. That keeps them going every day, maintaining their engagement and performance. Without a culture of caring, employers will struggle to provide meaningful tasks and positive interactions in the office.
- Workers will lose their intrinsic motivation
If employees are unhappy with their jobs and how their employers treat them, they’ll likely become demotivated and settle for average results. They should feel a sense of belonging and resonate with the company culture. Otherwise, workers lose intrinsic motivation, resulting in disengagement and, in the worst-case scenario, turnover. According to research, employees cost their company an equivalent of 18 percent of their salary when they are not engaged.
- Top talent could choose an employer with a stronger culture of caring
Talent attraction is among the top priorities for most companies. Employers require compelling benefits to appeal to job seekers, and a culture of caring is a unique competitive advantage.
- Employees could feel disconnected from their coworkers and workplaces
Work environments without tight-knit communities, inclusion and fair conditions distance employees from their jobs, workplaces and colleagues. People become mentally disconnected and lose interest in developing connections, leading to low performance and below-average results.
Employers should foster a culture of caring, support their hires and address their needs. By listening to their thoughts and expectations, companies develop more equitable and inclusive workplaces, where people complete their tasks because they want to and not because they must.
This article is the first of a 3-part series on building a culture of caring. Next up: 10 tips to establish a culture of caring.