Building a Strong Company Culture: HR’s Role in Employee Engagement

Building a Strong Company Culture: HR’s Role in Employee Engagement

Creating a great work culture is imperative to increase employee engagement and HR can be the enabler of this. A good culture attracts top talent and retains the A players you already have. Alignment between the company value, and how things actually work is one of the first thing to create a strong culture. The HR team has to see these values being operationalized as part of the work culture and interactions in between employees. Zappos, for one, is famous for its customer service culture where employees feel empowered and are even encouraged to 'wow' customers in some way. Granted, HR at Zappos keeps this message alive by spotlighting employees who have practiced the values of the Company. 

Human Resources can also promote togetherness by holding team-building events. This not only provides employees with ways to connect and develop rapport, whether that be virtual team events or in-person gatherings, but it also bolsters the sense of belonging among your workforces. For instance, it is usually the case that remote companies like Buffer will occasionally organize in-person meetups and retreats once annually to allow team members to come together for a bit of bonding (and reinforcing company culture).

the third building block of a powerful culture is Recognition programs. HR should create processes to reward employees by way of either formal recognition programs or spontaneous acknowledgment for their efforts. As an example, Google employees use their “Thanks” recognition program to post public appreciations of each other.

At the end of day, a great company culture that genuinely values everyone includes diversity and inclusion at its core. HR must make sure that employees, from whichever background they come feel valued and supported. Airbnb made diversity, equity and inclusion a part of its DNA from the beginning joining other companies which also have DEI teams or roles solely responsive to making sure there is more inclusivity in their workplace (See Airtable).

Ultimately, HR has a responsibility to create and maintain an organizational culture that supports continued engagement from employees in order for them to perform at their best.

  references

   - McCusker, A. (2020). "The Importance of a Strong Company Culture." *Forbes*. This article discusses how a strong culture attracts and retains top talent, emphasizing HR’s role in culture-building.

   - Denison, D. R., & Mishra, A. K. (1995). “Toward a Theory of Organizational Culture and Effectiveness.” *Organization Science*, 6(2), 204-223. A study highlighting the link between company culture, employee engagement, and overall organizational effectiveness.

 

   - Reh, F. J. (2020). "How to Ensure Your Company Values Are Aligned with Organizational Culture." *The Balance Careers*. This article discusses practical steps to align company values with culture and its impact on employee experience.

 

   - Deloitte. (2016). “The Zappos Approach to Customer Service: How a Culture of Empowerment Drives Success.” Deloitte Review. This report describes Zappos' customer-centric approach and how HR sustains this culture through employee recognition.

 

   - Degreed. (2022). "How Team-Building Activities Foster Connection and Engagement in Remote Workplaces." This article shares insights on team-building activities' role in employee engagement, with Buffer as a specific example.

      - Harvard Business Review. (2021). “The Impact of Employee Recognition Programs on Engagement.” *HBR*. Examines how formal and informal recognition programs increase engagement and performance, with Google as a notable example.

   - Lyubomirsky, S. (2013). *The Myths of Happiness*. Penguin. Discusses workplace happiness and the psychological impact of recognition on motivation and satisfaction.

   - Airbnb. (2020). “Airbnb’s Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion.” Airbnb’s official statement on how DEI is integrated into its culture.

   - Harvard Business Review. (2019). "How to Make DEI a Core Part of Your Culture." *HBR*. Explains practical steps for integrating DEI in company culture, with examples from organizations like Airtable.

   - SHRM. (2022). “The Role of HR in Building and Sustaining Company Culture.” *Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)*. Covers HR’s duties in maintaining employee engagement and supporting culture.