Of A Pandemic, Work From Home, and Work Culture

In a hilarious Dilbert comic strip, the boss says he tells employees that culture is their big asset; employees pretend to agree, thanks to the ‘culture of lying to avoid conflict’. That is typical of Scott Adams’ satirical take on the corporate world.

Simply put, work culture is the environment in which a workplace operates. Everything from policies instituted by the top brass, to personalities and attitudes of individuals contribute to the work culture. Like most intangible factors, work culture tends to be underrated, but its importance is indisputable.

In the present day, pandemic-inflicted world, work from home (WFH) has emerged as the new normal. Working remotely in turn, has led to disruption of standard work flow and processes. In this context, the work culture is more important than ever before.

Let’s take the example of a corporate that enjoys a positive work culture. Typically, such places will have satisfied employees who are working to the best of their abilities. Teams will be cohesive, and team mates will have each other’s back. The place will exude a positive vibe.

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Speaking from personal experience, I have been part of teams, wherein the chemistry was so cracking, that despite limited resources and numerous obstacles, we achieved more than anyone could imagine.

Now put this team in a WFH setup, which has its challenges. The positive culture—strong ties, driven individuals, and a sense of purpose—will not only keep the team going, but also ensure that productivity isn’t affected.

On the other end of the spectrum are workplaces with a negative work culture. Employees suffer from Monday blues. Some other hallmarks are: subservience scores over skill, favoritism scores over merit. Often employee turnover is high, and being a yes-man is a surefire way to prosper.

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The top brass in such workplaces believe that micromanagement, and creating an atmosphere of fear and insecurity are the best ways to get work done. While the approach may work in a conventional environment, in the WFH setting it’s a totally different ballgame. Breathing down someone’s neck over a Zoom or Webex call is considerably harder.

Furthermore, employees working in the safe and liberated environments of their homes are likely to react differently. The WFH setting will act as a barrier that exposes the shortcomings of a negative work culture, and also hurt productivity.

Admittedly, work cultures can’t be created or changed overnight. Similarly, changes caused by the WFH arrangement won’t be noticeable overnight either. But overtime, the benefits of a positive work culture (and vice-versa) will come to the fore. 

Top honchos would do well to take a long, hard look at the culture they have propagated. The time to take corrective measures is NOW!