How to Nurture Company Culture

How to Nurture Company Culture

According to research from global staffing firm Robert Half, over a third of  American workers would turn down a job that was otherwise a “perfect fit” if they didn’t like the corporate culture. In addition, 90 percent of employers say that cultural fit is more important than skills or experience to an employee’s long-term success.

The culture of an organization can make or break the working experience. Caster has always had a tight knit office culture, built around our shared love of good food, good wine, the beautiful Rhode Island coast, and kicking ass at our jobs. With such a small, close team, we didn’t have to nurture that vibe; it came naturally. When Caster onboarded an entire remote team in 2020, though, those interests were challenging to share via Zoom. To maintain our culture, we found we had to be intentional, scheduling company culture events. So, in 2021, Caster defined a dedicated social committee with both remote and onsite members to help brainstorm, schedule, and execute company culture events.

Near and Far

For a hybrid team like the Caster Crew, gatherings virtually and in-person impact our overall culture and employee job satisfaction. Throughout the year, our team has been hosting social events over Zoom and now, with a fully vaccinated team, our remote members have started making the trek to our beautiful office in little Rhody for some much needed in-person bonding. Between virtual team lunches, team-wide monthly wellness challenges, and in-person meetings, the Caster team has seen great improvements in employee satisfaction and team communication thanks to virtual and in-person culture events. Don’t believe me? Take it from some of the Caster Crew members!

“While our Zoom parties are great, I loved going to Newport Vineyards when Rachel was in town and getting to spend time face to face with good food and wine. I’m looking forward to getting to see our other remote peeps in person, too!” – Lexie Gardiner

“As person whose natural laziness is outstripped only by her natural competitive streak, I really loved our office-wide Spring Fitness Challenge. It was a great way to learn what everyone was into while also, you know, attempting to crush my rivals.” – Rachel Bradshaw

What are the Benefits?

Of course, managing company culture with a hybrid team can be challenging, but the benefits make it worth every second. A few of the benefits that the Caster team can vouch for include:

• Happiness: Culture events and meetings allow teammates to build relationships, making it easier to connect with and rely on one another. Scheduled events also give employees something to look forward to as they work through their weekly tasks.
• Stress Relief: The world of public relations can be hectic and stressful, but with breaks in the week to chat with teammates and laugh together, employees are given something to think about outside of work. Employees who are less stressed and anxious produce higher quality work and are less likely to miss deadlines – these breaks ultimately save time!
• Loyalty and Engagement: Social connections among employees foster engagement with one another and management as well as loyalty to the company. Positive work relationships lead to positive results and increased dedication.

How We Do It

Thanks to our newly appointed social committee, the Caster Crew has a schedule of company culture events to look forward to each month. With events including ongoing team challenges, virtual team lunches, and even post-work happy hours, the Caster team has plenty of events that allow us to take a break, de-stress, and create lasting relationships with our teammates. The social committee listens to team feedback and ideas and creates a balance of in-person and virtual events that keep everyone engaged and excited for what will come next. In a post-COVID world with a fully vaccinated team, we are all very excited to meet our remote team members in person and show them around our beautiful state.

I think more companies and organizations should focus on employee satisfaction and culture events. The Caster team is a perfect example of how a dedicated social committee can improve employee satisfaction and create a happier, healthier, and more loyal team. A simple 20-minute team lunch or a trip to the beach after work will keep employees motivated and will positively impact team relationships.

Like all good business practices, companies can’t just hope these events will happen naturally on their own.  A positive company culture must be intentionally sought and carefully nurtured. As we carve out time to share our other passions, we naturally strengthen our shared interest in being a rock start PR team.