Whether you are talking to a candidate or a friend about your company, you’re likely to hear this question:
“But what is the company culture like there?”
Answering this question can be tricky, especially if you don’t have a strong grasp of the concept. However, with rising turnover rates in multiple industries, your company’s culture is more important than ever — in fact, it might be the only thing keeping some valuable employees on board.
Below, we’ll define “company culture”, list some components of positive company culture, and provide some advice for improving the morale and culture of your team.
What Is a Company Culture?
Many businesses today focus on company culture as a way to improve employee engagement and retention. But what is company culture, and why is it important?
A company’s culture is its personality. It is the sum total of the attitudes, values, and beliefs that employees share, which characterize the business. It shapes how people interact with each other and influences how they perform their jobs.
Company culture can affect employee engagement and satisfaction, which in turn impacts productivity and turnover rates. Positive company culture can attract and retain top talent, while poor company culture can drive away good employees. It can also influence customer satisfaction, client loyalty, and your business’s overall performance.
When managed effectively, company culture can give you a competitive advantage in your market. However, if left unattended, it can also become a liability. This is why it’s so important to regularly check in with a company culture audit and make sure that your employees are feeling supported, cared for, and productive.
Does Your Business Have a Positive Company Culture?
When most people think of good company culture, they often think of regular raises and fun perks, like free food and ping pong tables. While these things can certainly contribute to a positive atmosphere, they’re not the only things that matter.
If it’s time to take a long, hard look at your company culture, use this list as a checklist to make sure you’re paying attention to the things that matter:
1. Company Values
Do your company values align with those of your employees? Do they match the culture you’re trying to create? Do the company values appear to be authentic and genuine, or are they just for show? These questions are important to consider when creating or assessing a program that will become a central part of your company culture.
In addition, company policies should also reflect and support the culture you’re encouraging. For example, if you’re trying to promote a culture of generosity, your expense policy should not be overly restrictive. Otherwise, it will send the hypocritical message that you’re not truly committed to the program, and it will be harder to get employees on board.
2. Communication Style
Is communication open and honest, or is it secretive and ambiguous? Do employees feel like they can ask questions and get honest answers? Do you provide timely updates on company progress and changes?
Transparent communication is key to maintaining healthy company culture. When employees feel like they are in the dark, it can lead to mistrust and cynicism. Make sure that you are keeping employees in the loop, encouraging them to ask questions, seriously considering their ideas, and listening to their feedback as you go.
3. Employee Engagement
Is your company engaging with employees on a regular basis? Do you have regular communication with employees about the company’s goals, objectives, and progress? Do you provide opportunities for employees to give feedback and be heard?
Employees are looking for authentic engagement from their employers. They want to feel like they are a part of something bigger and that their voices are being heard. Make sure to create opportunities for employees to engage with the company on a regular basis.
If you’ve considered your company’s values, communication styles, and engagement and found that they’re less than conducive to positive company culture, don’t worry; there are ways to fix this. With a well-planned gift-matching program, you can support your employee’s values, practice open communication, and encourage them to engage with the team. We will discuss this further below.
What Is a Corporate Gift Matching Program?
A corporate gift-matching program is a great way for companies to encourage employees to donate to charitable organizations. “Gift matching programs” are programs that allow employees to donate to a charity of their choice and have their donations matched by their employer, effectively doubling their impact.
This is one of the most effective ways to address all of the above company culture checklist items, as it allows the company to support employees’ values while encouraging engagement and clear communication.
These programs build a culture of giving and generosity, encouraging employees to get more involved in their community. Furthermore, corporate gift matching programs are tax-deductible, making them a win-win for employees and businesses.
While corporate gift-matching programs have been around for some time, they are often difficult to administer and keep track of. However, this is now a complaint of the past. ReciprociT has developed a way to streamline the process, making it easier than ever for businesses to implement a corporate gift-matching program.
So, how do you launch one properly? Let’s take a look.
Launching a Corporate Gift Matching Program
What is the most important part of company culture? There is no one answer to this question, as company culture varies from organization to organization. While a positive company culture may seem hard to attain, it doesn’t have to be difficult to engage your employees and improve morale. If you want to support your employees in a way that resonates with them, you can simply follow our corporate gift-matching checklist to make sure you have all of the bases covered:
1. Define the Purpose of the Program
The first step in launching a corporate gift-matching program is to define its purpose. What are the goals of the program? What type of impact do you hope to make? Answering these questions will guide the development of the program.
2. Develop Guidelines for Eligibility
Once the purpose of the program has been defined, it is time to develop guidelines. These will outline how the program will operate and what type of gifts will be eligible for matching. In the spirit of open and honest communication, be sure to clearly communicate the program guidelines to your employees. They should know how much you will match, what types of gifts are eligible, and any deadlines for submitting requests.
3. Choose a Platform
The next step is to choose a platform for administering the program. ReciprociT makes it easy to track donations and match them automatically through payroll deduction. This platform also allows employees to choose the charities they would like to support and track their donations over time. With ReciprociT’s automated gift processing and reporting, you can be sure that your program will run smoothly. ReciprociT uniquely embraces the values of the modern workforce; supporting confidential 501c3 choices. It allows for complete confidentiality within the organizations employees are looking to support and lets employees pick the charities that are important to them.
4. Consider Your Budget
While it’s important to be mindful of costs, you also need to make sure you are investing enough in the program to make it successful. A corporate gift-giving program is not a cheap undertaking, but it can be well worth the investment if it’s done right. Be sure to consider the costs of gift matching, administrative fees, and any other fees associated with the setup.
5. Timing
When will the program launch? Will it be a one-time event, or will it be ongoing? If it’s a limited-time event, will it be recurring?
It’s important to consider the timing of your program carefully. If you launch it too early, you run the risk of having it fizzle out before it has a chance to take off. If you launch it too late, you might miss the opportunity to make a lasting impact.
6. Promote the Program
Once you have all the details of your program worked out, it’s time to start promoting it. Promotional materials should be developed that explain how the program works and why employees should participate. The best way to promote a corporate gift-giving program is to start with your existing employees. Send out an email blast or create an internal communication campaign to let everyone know about the program.
You can also promote the program on your company’s website and social media channels. This is a great way to generate interest and excitement about the program. Make sure to use the appropriate hashtags and keywords so people can easily find and learn more about the program.
7. Evaluate the Program
After the program has been in place for a substantial period of time, it’s important to evaluate its effectiveness. Are employees participating? Are donations being made? Are there any areas where the program could be improved? Regularly answering these questions and adjusting accordingly will ensure that the program meets your goals and objectives.
8. Recognize and Reward Employees for Their Participation
Employees respond well to recognition and rewards; when they feel appreciated, they’re more likely to be motivated and productive, thus improving their work performance. This is how company culture affects employee engagement.
A handwritten note can go a long way toward making your employees feel appreciated. Alternatively, companies can host special events to recognize and reward employees for their participation. This could be an annual party or an informal gathering. Whichever approach you choose, make sure it’s something your employees will enjoy so you can properly show your appreciation for their participation.
Companies with change-resistant cultures often struggle to boost employee engagement. A successful and sustainable corporate gift-giving program can be a great way to improve employee culture and relationships among the staff.
With ReciprociT, you can focus on what’s important: your employees. We’ll take care of the rest.
Great Company Culture
With “company culture” becoming more and more of a buzzword, we often hear tales of “bad” or “great” company cultures that make or break employees’ experiences at their jobs. However, the concept of company culture is subjective enough that many often wonder; what is bad company culture, and what is great company culture?
While “bad” and “great” are subjective terms, we can definitively say that positive company culture is one that is built on trust, respect, and appreciation. By auditing your current situation and making improvements where you can, you can show your team that you value their contributions, boosting morale over time.
A corporate gift-giving program can be a great way to show your employees that you value them. If you need help getting started, contact ReciprociT — we’re experts in fostering employee appreciation through thoughtful and completely digital corporate gift-matching programs.
Ready to start showing your team some love? Visit our website or give us a call today to learn how we can help you foster a company culture that will improve employee engagement and bring about a more productive and successful business.
