When you imagine your future job, what do you see?
Maybe you picture yourself feeling well-supported by your manager and colleagues. Going home on time. Celebrating your efforts and achievements. Having opportunities to develop your knowledge and skills.
Essentially, you picture yourself doing work you enjoy – in a welcoming and professional environment where you feel valued.
This is why a strong workplace culture is so important for an organisation’s overall success, employee retention and brand reputation. People want to work somewhere they feel safe, seen, appreciated, connected, valued and respected. Not only will they be less likely to quit or experience stress and burnout, but they’ll probably be more productive, too.
What is workplace culture?
Workplace culture encompasses the values, behaviours, social norms and expectations that shape how staff perform, feel and interact at work.
Think of workplace culture like the skeleton of an organisation. A strong skeleton helps your body function well – and a healthy workplace culture does the same for an organisation!
When company culture thrives, staff tend to feel more connected, supported and motivated to do their best work. But when it deteriorates, productivity can decline, employee turnover increases and morale tends to be low.
Why workplace culture matters – especially if you want to have a successful career
If you’re a first-time job seeker, you might not be overly concerned about workplace culture (yet). You’ve possibly just finished studying. You’re excited to get a job and earn money! When you get an interview, you might be more focused on proving you’ll be a great fit for the workplace – not ensuring the workplace will be a great fit for you.
But even if you land your dream job, a toxic workplace culture can quickly sour your experience.
And if you’ve already been working, you might already understand the importance of finding the right cultural fit. Maybe you’re even looking for a new job because of the culture at your current or previous workplace.
According to job site SEEK, 73 per cent of Australians find workplace culture important; 61 per cent of people said they’d turn down a job if they learned a company had a poor culture and 83 per cent said they’d left a job (or would leave a job) due to poor culture.
| Positive workplace culture | Negative workplace culture |
| Builds trust and encourages open communication | Promotes gossip, fear or secrecy |
| Recognises effort and celebrates small wins | Ignores credit or takes credit unfairly |
| Supports work-life balance and personal wellbeing | Expects long hours or punishes time off |
| Encourages growth and learning opportunities | Offers little training or career progression |
| Fosters collaboration and team support | Breeds competition, cliques or blame |
| Values diversity, equity and inclusion | Tolerates bias or exclusion |
| Listens to feedback and adapts | Punishes feedback or dismisses concerns |
| Makes employees feel safe and respected | Creates stress, burnout or high turnover |
What does a positive workplace culture look like?
You might be wondering what a positive work culture actually looks like. Hint, it’s not just about the benefits and perks you might receive! While yearly bonuses, free snacks and staff parties can be fun, they can’t make up for working in an environment where the leadership team or teammates fail to value, support, or protect you.
A healthy workplace culture creates an atmosphere where employees want to be – and thrive. In this type of positive work environment, employees (including leadership and teams such as People and Culture) might:
- communicate openly and compassionately
- embrace diversity and inclusion so everyone feels valued and respected
- encourage collaboration to build teamwork and innovation
- foster employee engagement and social connection through meaningful team activities
- offer professional development opportunities to encourage growth and career progression
- promote psychological safety so employees feel they can speak up and request help
- recognise the achievements and contributions of employees
- support work-life balance through flexibility and adequate leave provisions
- utilise fair hiring and promotion policies.
Four examples of workplace culture
Some types of culture aren’t necessarily good or bad – they’re just different. It’s worth considering which ones will suit you best!
Collaborative versus competitive
In a collaborative work environment, you might share goals with your colleagues. This can lead to benefits such as faster professional development (because you’ll learn from others), a strong sense of belonging and greater innovation. For example, in creative fields, cross-functional teams often join forces to brainstorm ideas, write content, design assets and analyse results.
A competitive workplace culture might prioritise employee recognition by rewarding top performers and offering incentives. This could motivate you to push your boundaries, learn quickly and kick goals. Think jobs in real estate where you might need to compete for listings and commissions, sales roles or corporate giants that offer bonuses for employees who meet ambitious targets.
Formal versus casual
Love dressing professionally, knowing your responsibilities and following clear guidelines? You might thrive in a formal workplace, such as public service agencies, law firms, hospitals or banks.
Meanwhile, casual work environments often encourage informal communication and brainstorming, a flexible dress code, autonomy and greater flexibility within your role. Try looking for jobs at universities, small businesses or creative agencies – be sure to check the job description for clues!
Innovative versus traditional
Experimentation. Creativity. Adaptability. Improvement. Growth. These are some potential features of an innovative workplace culture. Be prepared to think on your feet, adapt to change and take risks! You could work as a freelancer or with startups – just don’t forget to weigh the pros and cons of job security before diving in.
If you prefer stability, consistency and structure, then a more traditional, corporate culture might suit you better. Think tax offices, city councils, manufacturing companies and utility providers.
In-office versus hybrid or remote
Some people believe working in an office boosts productivity. Others focus more on how well you communicate and meet deadlines, no matter where you work. Some roles, such as teaching students in a classroom, performing surgery or completing research in a lab, require your physical presence.
Consider the pros and cons of remote versus in-office work to figure out what suits you. Looking for a bit of both? Keep your eye out for hybrid roles.
How to spot workplace culture before accepting a job
Found an exciting job opportunity? Go you! But before you commit, it’s a good idea to find out if they have a healthy culture.
Step 1: Research the company
Check Glassdoor, LinkedIn and social media to discover key information, such as common employee experiences, retention rates and the company’s values. Do you know someone who works there (or has worked there before)? Give them a call and find out what the culture’s really like.
Step 2: Pay attention in interviews
Show the interviewer that you’re engaged and proactive by asking thoughtful questions – and learn more about the culture of the workplace.
Try asking questions such as:
- How does the organisation demonstrate its core values?
- How would you describe the team dynamic?
- Are there opportunities for professional development?
- What initiatives exist for employee wellbeing?
- Is open communication encouraged?
Bonus tip: you don’t have to wait until the interview to ask these questions! If the job ad includes a phone number, give them a call to find out more about the role and ask a few questions about the culture.
Step 3: Look for cues
Keep an eye out for anything that hints at the workplace culture – the tone of the job description, dress code, staff benefits, leave provisions and location (and office layout if you’re lucky enough to get a preview!).
If you land a job interview, is it well-organised? Are you welcomed warmly on arrival? Does your interviewer talk about their team with respect? Do they give you their attention or regularly get distracted by their phone or laptop? Do the questions align with the job description? For example, if the job is promoted as hybrid, do they ask if you have a comfortable home office?
What to do if it isn’t a good fit
If you land your dream job but the culture at work feels off, there are some proactive things you can do.
Learn about yourself. Use your current job to work out what you want and need at work. Maybe, you thought you wanted autonomy when you actually need an approachable and supportive manager. You might decide that flexibility is more important than money. A competitive environment might have sounded great initially, but perhaps you feel pressured to work longer hours (without getting paid).
Once you’ve learned what you want and need, ask if those things can be accommodated. For example, if you’re keen for more support from your manager, request a weekly check-in. Working longer hours to keep up? Ask if you can extend some deadlines or delegate tasks.
Adapt. Sometimes, you might need time to adjust to your new working environment, especially if this is your first job! Use employee support services to brainstorm solutions. Find self-care strategies, such as listening to relaxing music. Block out time in your calendar so you can focus.
Look for efforts that go into building workplace culture. Sometimes, cultural change in the workplace can take a little while. If you raise concerns and those concerns are addressed in a professional and timely manner, there might be hope for future improvements!
Don’t just “stick it out”. If you dread going to work every day and you’ve done your best to ask for help and adapt to the work environment, it might be time to move on – especially if you don’t see any meaningful signs of change. The average person tends to experience three to seven career changes in their lifetime, so don’t let yourself get trapped in a job you hate.
Looking for a career change? Study online with Charles Sturt University.
Final tips for finding a good culture fit
Finding the right workplace culture for you isn’t just a perk. It’s the foundation for long-term success, happiness and growth.
A few final tips for finding your ideal workplace culture:
- Reflect on your own values and work style so you know what to look for when you’re job-hunting.
- Don’t ignore gut feelings. If something feels off at any stage of your job application, seek clarification and don’t be afraid to move on.
- Ask mentors or peers what culture fits them (and why!).
- Research companies with good employee reviews to discover what they offer and look for similar offerings during your job search.
- Remember that it’s not about the “best” culture, it’s about finding the right one for you. Not only will a healthy culture protect your mental health and boost your job satisfaction, but the right support and opportunities will help you grow professionally and boost your career prospects in the future.
Thinking about uni but want more than just lectures and textbooks? We understand that your future career matters – that’s why we focus on building practical employability skills, such as resilience, critical thinking and communication. Graduate with a degree and the ability to thrive in the workplace. Contact us to find out more!
Frequently asked questions
Does a positive workplace culture influence employee wellbeing?
Yes, it can! A healthy workplace culture can boost employee satisfaction, prevent stress and burnout, encourage connection and collaboration, enhance creativity and provide opportunities for learning and growth.
What should I do if I love the workplace culture, but I dislike the work?
A vibrant, healthy workplace culture won’t necessarily make an employee feel good at work. You also need the knowledge and skills to get the job done or you’ll risk burning out, underperforming, feeling overwhelmed or eventually leaving the role.
The good news is, there are some potential solutions! You could meet with your manager to discuss job shadowing or mentoring, professional development courses, cross-training or opportunities to upskill. Keep an eye out for secondment roles, so you can stay in the same organisation but do a different job. Upskill with an online uni course so you can boost your knowledge and skillset or take on a whole new role.
I want to actively contribute to my workplace culture. What should I do?
We love that! Workplaces need people who are willing to help drive positive changes. Here are some ideas:
- Live shared values. If you and the organisation both care about collaboration, find ways to boost teamwork and connection. For example, practise open communication, create shared goals and use collaborative platforms.
- Encourage people to have a healthy work-life balance. Respect boundaries and talk about healthy work habits. Normalise taking proper breaks. Start and leave work on time. Utilise hybrid working arrangements.
- Participate in initiatives that allow you to support your colleagues. For example, undertake mental health first aid training, offer to become a mentor (once you have the appropriate amount of experience) or support diversity and inclusion initiatives.
I’m looking for a new career but I don’t know where to start.
Think about the workplace culture that would best suit you. Formal or casual? Traditional or innovative? Collaborative or competitive? In-office, remote or hybrid? Make notes of your skills, strengths and plans for the future. Talk to other people about their workplace culture and identify aspects that would work well for you.
Armed with your research, consider courses that will help you find your ideal workplace. You might even like to consider courses that build on your current degree and help you reach management level, so you can influence the workplace culture to a greater degree. For example:
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