11 Ways to make the culture of the workplace better

A positive workplace culture is recognised as one of the keys to improving employee engagement in high-performance companies.

Onwards Answering, an established outsourced communications company, has always prioritised company culture and is being praised as a best practice example of how to leverage workplace culture for success.

Not only has a great workplace culture and a highly engaged team improved Onwards Answering’s approach to recruitment, retention, and customer satisfaction, but it has also transformed the very foundation of the building they call home, resulting in what the company calls ‘Onwards Answering Love’.

Here are 11 proven techniques for creating an effective, positive, motivating, and pride-worthy workplace culture.

#1. Encourage an open-door policy in the workplace

It is not ideal for every organisation, but at Onwards Answering, we have taken care of creating a sense of community among our team members rather than one of hierarchy.  We achieved this with an open-door policy, which ensures that all of our employees have access to the CEO and the rest of the senior management team at any time. Accessibility is encouraged, and it allows us to stay connected to our employees’ issues, opinions, and ideas.

#2. Appreciate and recognise employee’s efforts

It costs nothing to say “well done” or “thank you” to employees who go above and beyond or receive positive client feedback. Recognising people’s efforts has become a signature part of what we call ‘Onwards Answering Love,’ and it takes many forms, from free coffees for everyone to sweet treats and thank you notes for staff who deserve commendation.

#3. Recommended regular employee engagement

Employees who understand their company’s goals, ambitions, and objectives are more committed and optimistic about why and how their contributions matter. We keep our employees up to date on the most recent business developments using Workplace by Meta. It was extremely important during the pandemic because it allowed us to quickly communicate information and make our employees feel connected to the company and one another, regardless of where they are.  When results are positively communicated it will also increase overall job satisfaction.

#4. Encourage collaboration, common interests and relationships

The stronger the relationships among team members, the better teams collaborate and engagement. This is one of the reasons we support the creation of various interest groups within the company. Whether it’s a passion for cooking, fitness, environmental action, or a favourite TV show, our interest groups allow colleagues to get to know one another and develop meaningful relationships.

#5. Offer complimentary breakfast and lunch

While not every company can provide the same benefits, we are able to give employees a complimentary breakfast and a discounted lunch to encourage a positive work environment. We’ve discovered that keeping our employees well-fueled makes them feel valued while also allowing them to operate at their peak performance – which is especially beneficial given the increasing cost of living.

#6. Create rewarding experiences

In today’s extremely competitive job market, organisations must consider the employee experiences they provide.  For us, the Onwards Answering experience should be as enjoyable, fulfilling, and rewarding as possible to encourage employee morale. We’re achieving this in part with a free on-site gym, access to Onwards Answering bikes, an activity cupboard stocked with anything from board games to kayaks and paddleboards, and even the opportunity to try beekeeping in our on-site beehives. These additional benefits help increase employee retention as they demonstrate that we care about every part of our employee’s life and encourage them to be healthy and active.

#7. Consider the employee’s mental health

Mental health is a popular topic in UK businesses, and creating a positive work environment that ensures employees feel supported is important.  We recently invested in an on-site counsellor to ensure that employees have quick and free access to emotional and mental wellness care.  This accessible resource demonstrates how devoted we are to investing in our employees’ needs to improve employee engagement.

#8.  Environmental initiatives

Employees today want their companies to be sustainable.  At Onwards Answering, we are highly committed to reducing our influence on the natural world. Initiatives such as providing reusable coffee cups to employees, bringing free bikes to encourage less car use, hosting our own beehives on-site, recycling all waste, using rainwater harvesting, and growing our own flowering plants demonstrate to our employees that we take our responsibilities seriously and that environmental change has become embedded in how we do business.

#9. Management provides regular updates

Our CEO regularly updates the team through videos to create a culture of transparency and engagement. These could be about new customer successes, product or service updates, where we’re investing, but they all have one thing in common: we want our employees to be aware of what’s going on at Onwards Answering and to feel connected.

#10. Commitment to charity

Supporting local charity is an excellent approach to developing a strong connection with your community and encouraging employee engagement in the initiatives that your employees care about. 

#11. Embrace diversity

Embracing differences and similarities promotes mutual respect and open-mindedness, all required for effective business environments.  At Onwards Answering, we often celebrate major calendar dates like Pride by decorating the office, hosting themed activities, and unveiling new menus. Diversity strengthens us, and we actively promote it to our team members to improve engagement.

Create a positive workplace culture

Culture is an organisation’s DNA; it is the tangible manifestation of your beliefs, goals, and attitudes, and it has an opportunity to improve recruitment, retention, productivity, reputation, and other aspects.  If you get it right, your culture can help the company grow significantly.