The Top 10 Signs of Bad Company Culture
Here are some common red flags to look out for:
1. Core Values Aren’t Defined When a company’s core values are unclear or nonexistent, it creates confusion among employees about the organization’s identity and principles. Employees may not understand what’s expected of them or how to be in service of the company’s mission. This ambiguity can lead to different people or departments making contradicting decisions, hindering the development of a strong company culture.
2. Managers Don’t Follow Core Values Simply put, having company values on paper isn’t enough— they must be embodied by your people leaders. Employees can become disheartened when leadership has a “do as I say, not as I do” mentality. This lack of accountability can lower morale and may drive employees to also disregard the company’s core values, allowing toxic work behaviors to spread.
3. Candidates Aren’t Accepting Job Offers Interviews are a two-way street, with candidates assessing not only the role but also the workplace environment and growth opportunities. They may turn down a job for various reasons: • Lack of transparency during the hiring process • Salary range below the industry average
4. New Hires Don’t Stay Long Companies have just 44 days to make a good first impression on new hires. According to a recent survey by Qualtrics, 39% of employees who have been in their jobs for six months are already planning a quick exit as they tend to have lower levels of engagement, wellbeing, and inclusion compared to more tenured employees.
5. Employees Have Poor Work-Life Balance Flexible hours have become a more common perk thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise of remote work. However, if employees are consistently racking up overtime because of an expectation or necessity to work during lunch breaks, nights, or weekends just to keep up with their workload, it’s a recipe for employee burnout.
6. Absentee Rates Are High It’s inevitable for employees to miss work occasionally. From feeling ill to dealing with family emergencies, life happens. However, frequent tardiness or absences may indicate underlying issues such as poor management or working conditions, leaving employees feeling less engaged and motivated to contribute to the company’s success. Aside from difficulty finding coverage for absences the day of, there can be harmful long-term consequences such as distrust between employees and managers and lower customer satisfaction, damaging the employer brand. Failing to acknowledge or reward top performers for a job well done can lead to decreased motivation, productivity, and loyalty. In fact, a recent Gallup survey reports employees who don’t feel adequately recognized are twice as likely to say they’ll quit within the next year.
7. Employees Don’t Feel Appreciated • Misalignment between their working style and their potential supervisor’s management style • Ambiguous company values If prospective hires frequently decline job offers, there’s likely a disconnect between the company’s projected image and the actual work culture.
8. Gossip Runs Rampant It’s a red flag when gossip is common in the workplace. Rumors and negative talk can quickly erode trust, damage relationships, and create a hostile work environment. After all, it would be understandably challenging for employees to focus on their work if they’re constantly anxious about colleagues whispering behind their backs.
9. Employee Net Promoter Scores Are Low Your Employee Net Promoter Score (eNPS*) is the difference between the number of people who would recommend your company as a great place to work and those who wouldn’t. A low eNPS indicates that many employees are unsatisfied and potentially looking to leave.
10. High-Performing Employees Don’t Stick Around High turnover among key employees or leaders is cause for concern, as it suggests they didn’t see a future with the company. What’s more, the resulting skill gaps can have negative ripple effects on productivity, team morale, and the company’s overall performance.
https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/assets/whitepapers/bad-company-culture-signs.pdf