Positive Workplace Culture Thrives on Actions, Not Words

Lots of companies can talk the talk when it comes to positive culture and employee wellbeing. But how many actually walk the walk too? It’s all too easy to write policies that make big promises, but if, as employers we don’t follow through there won’t actually be any positive change.

As we await new Guidance from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) following a review of SMCR, we suspect that we will see a sharpened focus on positive culture within the finance sector. As leaders we need to think about what we say, and also the actions we will take too.

Why is there a new focus on positive culture?

Employee wellbeing and positive workplace culture are not new concepts, but for these to become more than just buzzwords, many organisations will need to take action. In the past, employee wellbeing was often seen as something handled solely by the HR department, and even then, was often there mainly to protect the interests of the business. But with regulation like the Worker Protections Act (October 2024), the onus moves away from reactive approaches to sexual harassment in the workplace to a preventative approach. We are seeing a shift of responsibility not solely for the HR team but embedding throughout the whole business.

Why is positive culture so important?

From an employee’s point of view, given the choice, why wouldn’t you want to work in a positive environment? No one actively chooses a toxic workplace and, whatever level you are within the organisation, feeling valued, supported and safe is shown to increase employee productivity and support staff wellbeing. A survey by Nectar showed that 83.6% of employees feel that recognition affects their motivation to succeed at work.

But it isn’t just the employees themselves who benefit from a positive culture. Increased productivity is an obvious benefit to the business which positively impacts the bottom line numbers. Other benefits include a lower turnover of staff and increased employee engagement. Both of these factors also improve overall business performance.

What does positive culture look like in the workplace?

Positive culture might look slightly different for each organisation, but it’s important to remember this is about more than comfy chairs or pool tables in the breakout room. While these things can be great, they don’t mean much on their own, or if no one gets to use them because the workload is too heavy. To really build positive culture it’s about nurturing an environment where all staff feel safe, heard, and engaged.

Policy reviews are a good first step but they won’t solve the problem of negative culture on their own. In fact, if there is no follow through on those policies it can make a bad situation worse. New staff policies should be created through two-way, open communication between managers and employees. Take it beyond just words on a page by engaging with staff. Are people doing the right things? Does it make sense? Are they following the right processes? If the answers to these are ‘no’, then it’s time to review again.

Positive workplace culture is built on action not words. How does management respond when employees take a problem to them? Do staff feel safe and encouraged to raise any concerns they might have, or are their heads bitten off?

At PeopleClear, we can help you to address these questions and come up with easy to implement solutions. We can work with you and your team to understand what positive culture will look like for your organisation; how you can work towards building this alongside meeting the new statutory requirements; and operating under the new laws like the Workplace Protection Act.

Contact us for more information and a pragmatic solution today.