“What Is the Impact of Company Culture on Employee Engagement and Productivity? Can Lack of Social Interaction at Work Affect Job Satisfaction and Performance? #CompanyCulture #EmployeeEngagement #WorkplaceSocializing #WorkLifestyle”
Experience in a Large Chemical Company
– Three years of experience in a large chemical company
– Two days work from home, three days in office with a one-hour commute
– Noticeable lack of social interaction and engagement among coworkers
Concerns About Lack of Social Interaction
– Difficulty in establishing connections with coworkers
– Attempts at organizing social activities falling flat
– Limited communication with colleagues and supervisor through IM rather than face-to-face
Importance of Workplace Culture and Socialization
– Questioning the significance of a friendly and engaging company culture
– Seeking opinions on the benefits of having a sociable workplace environment
– Reflecting on the impact of job satisfaction on work performance
Seeking Validation for Social Interaction in the Workplace
– Pondering whether a focus on social interaction at work is justified
– Wondering if workplace relationships contribute to job satisfaction and productivity
– Striving for a balance between work responsibilities and social connections
By addressing these concerns and exploring the impact of company culture on employee engagement and performance, individuals can gain insights into the importance of fostering a positive and interactive workplace environment.
It’s very important to me. I spend more time with my coworkers than most other people, so I like having a positive relationship with them. I work in a small company and it’s such a great culture. We have company events fairly frequently, plan happy hours, in office lunches. I found a great place.
Um…. I’m autistic and that sounds like a good company culture to me.
It’s important to find a place where you’re comfortable. That means different things to different people, though.
When I have to be in the office, I want to get shit done and get back to where I actually want to be. I’m sure you’re a very nice person, but work friends aren’t real friends, and many people aren’t interested in making significant investments in those relationships–especially at the expense of their real relationships.
I just want to be respected. I want to be valued.
My previous company had a super friendly office but it wasn’t overbearing. We’d have happy hours at least once a month. Go to events in town together, chat in between meetings for decent lengths of time, or even just get lunch at work regularly at the same time.
My new company is polar opposite and people don’t interact if they don’t have to. Those few interactions you do have tend to be extremely cold and short. Everyone is very insular and the only lunches or happy hours we have are at the end of the year when our boss buys everyone sandwiches.
I took my old company’s culture for granted when I switched and I’ve very much missed that friendly office every day I’ve been at this new company. The crazy thing is it’s not even a small vs big thing, both companies were multinationals.
So It’s probably my number one factor for whatever next job I get that the office and company culture be friendly and kind.
My coworkers aren’t my friends. I’ll chat, but I’m really not at work to chat. I’d rather waste time some other way, like playing free cell.
This is going to be doubly subjective.
Company culture will matter more to some than others, and your company’s culture is going to appeal to some people and alienate others.
It sounds like you have a very introverted office and you are more extroverted. Nothing really wrong with either of those, you just have to decide how it weighs on a scale compared to the benefits and pay and career path potential.
You spend a lot of time at work. Work culture is pretty important. Every office has a work culture. It’s just a matter of finding one that fits with what you want.
If you’re not happy, find a new job.
I enjoy talking to my coworkers, I wouldn’t be caught dead at an after hours social function. My time is my time.
I like to find place I feel comfortable at. That’s been different things at different work environments. Some work environments I just want to show up, do my work and leave, specially if it’s more like data management or individualistic jobs. Others I want to be more collaborative and get to know my team mates in a sense. In either of those settings I’ve always known when the vibe is off. There should be an ease that comes with entering and walking around a work place. When that’s not there it can be hard to relax and feel comfortable. However, feeling a lack of ease in the workplace is more tolerable than a toxic work environment. So really it comes down to what you want from work. I’ve stayed at jobs without that ease for long periods because I liked the actual work I have been doing. But I have also stayed at jobs where I didn’t like the work as much because I enjoyed the company culture.
I think it is super important. I would feel depressed in a team without much interaction.
In my experience, I only worked in companies were the spirit is friendly. Some with more interaction after work than others. I also feel like my current team has a lot of introverts so the conversations don’t run as smoothly but we still take time to have coffee and lunch together and there are so many activities to do after work, drinks, playing paddle, football… Sometimes I even feel overwhelmed and feel bad to say no!
I think the sentiment of the teams comes a lot from the managers. If they aren’t very friendly and promoting interactions than no one will to not stick out and look like they aren’t doing the work. And they might be introverted too.
Very important.
If you can’t go around the office chatting a bit of shit and laughing at daft things, that ain’t a place I want to work ✌🏼
I’m terms of monthly happy hours and lunches and foosball and summer bbqs and free t shirts….I do not effing care. Mandatory fun is stupid. Free perks are vapid.
Give me a good work/life balance, work from home. Good pay and benefits. Everything else is BS
Its amazing how much quicker you can solve problems when you have built relationships with colleagues. I know everyone has a different level of social battery but a little bit of friendliness goes a long way.
I have found places that harp on company culture really mean they want people who act like the boss. Or people who don’t question things.
If it’s important to you, then it’s important. I once had a conversation with a recruiter that opened my eyes to how much the cultural aspects matter to feeling happy and motivated at work. It’s not just about the work, the environment and the people play a big factor.
Company culture matters to me in terms of how staff are treated, the company I work for there culture is rotten, clear favourites from the CEO, only in positions there in because there friends.
Engineers pushed into doing things they shouldn’t, no thinking about customers just how to get more money, I tend to stay working from home every day because of this because I hate what the company stands for
I have a pretty good setup with my peers right now.
Having a team I trust and work well with is important to my mental health.
There’s a minimum financially id accept at this point in my career, and I’m there. That probably also helps.
However, the amount of a bump that I’d need to make a change is significant due to the aforementioned mental health.
I want to live comfortably and it would be weird not to expand this wish to my working time. For me that means having a supportive boss, nice colleagues with whom I like to spend a coffee break or joke around while doing my tasks and interesting but not completely overwhelming work. Others may have other preferences.
“Work is work” means for me that I don’t sacrifice my free time for work not that I must emotionally detach myself from anything or anyone work related.
So for me company culture is important and I don’t mean the internal marketing bullshit but how it is lived. And if I really disliked the culture, I would look for alternatives.
“Company Culture” is absolutely important to every employee.
But what that means is different for every employee. People are unique and have dramatically differnt needs when it comes to their working environment.
We have a chill company culture. Our happy hours are sponsored. Once you get your company sticker on your shirt, order whatever drinks and food. Last one had a food truck that was in on it. I ordered food from the truck and the company paid. Company anniversary is a paid trip to a local hotel resort (one night free, pool, lazy river, open bar for a few hours free, set dinner menu you pick ahead of time, family comes free). Company winter party was catered food at a mini golf place (we paid $15 per person). I think some of the company events you pay a little money at a huge discount from what you would normally pay. My manager is remote. So it’s my job to organize a local team lunch once a quarter. I get to put it on my dining category credit card and get reimbursed. She came to town for one of them. We go into work once a week and it’s kind of a social catching up day. We also have free snacks, free touch screen coffee machine, various free drinks (think anything Costco business sells). I would say my work colleagues are work friends. Before I had my daughter, I would see some of them at the shooting range or clay shooting. I have had a few work colleagues over to my home for a potluck. I like to mix discussing work with personal to bond with my colleagues and make work more fun.
OP, I would be miserable at your company. I work in aerospace software.
It’s extremely important. We spend more time with those we work with than our own families, as wrong as that is, it’s true. You have to be able to get on with the people you work with. If it’s not a good fit you’re gonna be miserable.
I work in two very different worlds simultaneously. It’s changed how I think about company culture.
There’s the company I work at. They communicate electronically a lot, but they also do face-to-face. They have happy hours… on site. They do all kinds of things to build the work community, from Final Four watch parties to barbecues to bring your kid(s) (or pets) to work days. That’s just glossing over it for time… They pay really well, have great benefits, have a hybrid schedule but have no problems switching people to 100% WFH. It’s fantastic for those that work there.
Then, there’s the company I work for. Like the opposite in every way. Personally, I feel closer to the people at the company I work at than the people at the company I work for. I don’t even know 95% of them, even after a year-plus there. I could see them in a store and not even know they are…
There are pros and cons. Work is work, and no one’s obligated to hang out with coworkers. If you get along with the people you work with, however, it does make things easier. Not just personal stuff, but professionally; people would rather work with those that are approachable. People they feel comfortable being around. And, no matter what anyone says, no one is truly an island at work.
It’s important if you’re commuting for 6 hours a week to be there. I have a similar set up and it frustrates me that I drive all that way for… nothing? We all just sit in our cubicles then go home again. Either make it a fun, engaging and inspiring environment or just let me be fully remote!
Company culture is really very important. It’s a place where you spend a lot of time. And it depends on the environment and people you work with.
You should feel comfortable and good enough to actually work there.
I came across someone on IG the other day who said “a good job is like a good marriage,” and I have to agree. We spend the majority of our waking hours at work, define our self-worth and judge others by their job title, and spend four sometimes eight to 10 years completing additional education and certification for particular job fields. So yeah, how comfortable you feel where you spend 40+ hours a week matters.
The morning banter, office playlist, even the happy hour is something to look forward to. We’re all human; we require some type of social currency. To me, leadership is responsible for creating and maintaining a healthy work culture; too performers don’t leave bad companies, they leave ineffective leadership.
My 1st office encouraged to have some sort of “fun” and would sometimes schedule a team building outing or will do brown bag lunch sessions (the company caters and have a training session) once a quarter but they encouraged supervisors to do something for their teams as well. The output was alot friendlier, definitely lessened mean competition among coworkers and sharing among other work groups.
Left that office for a
higher pay level & position to another office that was the complete opposite. everyone either didnt talk, would rat other groups out, gossiped, and would sabotage one another. I couldn’t get out of there fast enough.
so i returned to my original office and am happier. luv the transparency and discussions.
If a company has good culture that is a benefit – otherwise it is a paycheck and what I use to live my life not much more than that.
If it’s important to you, it’s important to you. I wouldn’t be happy in that company culture either.
I really-really hate all these “we are the family!!!” activities. United lunches, holiday activities, chatting at work. I am at work to work! I don’t need “friendly small talks” and shit.
I don’t really have a choice since I need the job but my office has a strict no talking policy, but its only enforced for the people unlucky enough to sit near HR or next to the supervisors (us). I once spent the entire day quiet and lnly talked once to ask my coworker where she was going for lunch, and immediately, like within the minute, i got an email reminding of the policy.
Its kind of unfair. I cant even ask someone how their weekend was unless its within the 5 minutes it takes to get water in the break room.
Basically, i think its weird and kind of degrading. Im lucky my coworkers themselves are nice because i dont feel like a human being at work most of the time otherwise, and im already a quiet person.
I’m way more concerned about the “politics” angle of company culture.
Does the company operate from a place of transparency and objectivity, or are personal political agendas permitted to exist so long as they don’t negatively impact the revenue stream?
Is “The Truth” an objective treatment of data and facts, or is “The Truth” determined by personalities, politics, and which seat someone is sitting in on an org chart?
All the team happy hours, etc I can take or leave depending on my personal schedule, how I’m feeling that day, etc.
I worked for a company that had an incredibly good culture. I was with them for 14 years.
Most of the other companies I worked for, the culture was total crap. Everything from walking by people in the morning and saying “hello, good morning etc” and getting no reply to having to beg people to do their work so I could complete my work and meet out deadline.
Interestingly, my base pay was 15-25% higher at companies with a poor culture and although their commission OTE was often higher, you had to work X times harder to achieve it.
Now retired, looking back, I’d take culture over higher base pay every time.
God that sounds fantastic
I have made some real friends at work. People still in my life many years after we worked together.
Having said that, I usually don’t apply to companies that talk about their culture in the job post. Social activities at work aren’t important to me and I don’t want to feel like I need to participate.
Honestly, company culture is a huge deal for me! If the vibe is off or doesn’t match my values, it’s a total drag. But when it’s a good fit, it makes all the difference, you feel supported, motivated, and can actually enjoy going to work
This sounds fantastic. Except the commuting part. If what you say is true, then you may as well be 100% remote. Having to drive for an hour for that would piss me the fuck off (and used to, until lockdown corrected it for me)
I get it , my old dept was very cold – not nice people or at least not nice to me – I moved to a warmer group- or at least I made it warmer- I started with a peer mentoring where I met one individual who was to meet weekly with me for 3 months to help me onboard- we ended up being friends and we meet briefly each week to discuss our programs and vent makes the workweek even virtual warmer to me- I meet with my bosses boss who asks after my family which is priceless- I work with a young team who are diligent and friendly so work at a high level and are good with receiving and giving praise and are not punitive no blame game- the only reason I would think to leave is they are slow to promote but salary goes up with each yr merit so difficult to complain