5 Ways a Strong Work Ethic Shapes Your Company Culture

The great work shakeup of recent years has revealed the true essence of a strong work ethic. It’s not necessarily about staying late after hours or commuting to the office 5 days a week. According to a Harvard Business Insights article, workers exemplifying a strong work ethic “help shape your organisation’s culture, promote trust, ensure responsible behaviour, and contribute to its success.” Let’s dive into how these traits will further shape your company culture.

1. Boosts workplace productivity

A productive workforce is an efficient workforce. Workers who exemplify a strong work ethic meet deadlines on time, are reliable and punctual, produce high-quality results, and are disciplined in their approach to work. In short, an employee with a strong work ethic is a productive worker…and a huge asset to your company.

On average, people are only productive 60% of the working day or less. Giving your employees the conditions for improved workplace productivity will boost their ability to tick tasks off their list, for instance, a comfortable workspace empowers workers to put their heads down at the desk for a few hours, before brainstorming with their team in an inspiring breakout space, or using wellness spaces when they need their own time (and to step away from work for a moment). This pays back in dividends to employees’ overall happiness (and their commitment to your business) with Oxford University research discovering that happy employees are 13% more productive than unhappy workers.

2. Cultivates a positive work environment

Employee satisfaction is imperative when #quietquitting and #actingyourwage are trending online. Those with a strong work ethic have a positive approach to their work, and a happy workforce is one where everyone feels committed to their roles and responsibilities, creating a cohesive and supportive workplace culture. A strong work ethic can also be exemplified in how coworkers treat one another, with respect and an openness to collaborate. But, this needs to be nurtured by management.

Create a positive work environment where your employees thrive. Curate an exciting calendar of social events, from team lunches, and morning yoga sessions to Fika time (a Swedish tradition of cake and coffee). Empowering your employees to have a good work-life balance cultivates a positive work environment – a cycle that goes round and round.

3. Fosters employee engagement and retention

A worker displaying a strong work ethic takes initiative on tasks, rather than waiting for managers to offload or give them things to do. They’re highly motivated, contributing to an all-star company culture of positive, engaged workers. If your workers don’t feel challenged or empowered, they’re in danger of moving on to another organisation.

Employee churn is expensive and time-consuming, not to mention damaging to company culture. Every business wants to avoid this at all costs, not least because it means losing talented workers (in the UK, the churn rate is currently 34%). Retention is a two-way street – recognising, rewarding, and valuing your employees’ hard work boosts employee morale and job satisfaction. You can do this by simply listening to them and accommodating their needs, whether your workers seek additional professional development, career investment, or a promotion. Show them how much you value them within your organisation!

4. Drives innovation and creativity

Whether you’re a productised company or a service, embracing continuous innovation, development, and creative ideas is a recipe for success. Proactive employees are more likely to explore new ideas and solutions, driving continuous improvement and keeping your company competitive.

Remember, innovation doesn’t just happen during meetings. Indeed since the pandemic, workers are in 3x more weekly meetings and calls than previously, according to Microsoft’s Work Index Trend. Other methods to spark productivity include taking walking meetings, collaborating with coworkers (which different workstations can accommodate), and hosting team bonding workshops and events to inspire creativity. This doesn’t just drive innovation, but it also creates a positive (and fun!) company culture.

5. Supports sustainable business growth

We’re in an era where transparency, honesty, and integrity shape buyers’ decisions. But, these values also impact the people working in those companies, who more often than not feel that purpose and mission drive their work ethic and productivity. For example, companies that practice “conscious capitalism – the philosophy that businesses should responsibly and ethically serve all stakeholders,” were found to have investment returns of 1,646% rather than 157% from S&P companies.

For instance, Patagonia actively employs people who share their values, describing their workers as “someone who can treat work as play, fulfilment in independence, and is obsessed with quality.” Over its fifty-year lifespan, the company has grown slowly and sustainably rather than aggressively before burning out companies that do this don’t make it past the 20-year mark). Their approach and employees’ work ethic hugely contribute to a positive company culture and popular brand loved by many.

The bottom line

A strong work ethic is fundamental to boosting workplace productivity and shaping a positive company culture. Fostering efficiency, quality, and proactive problem-solving enhances productivity while encouraging professional growth, embracing flexibility and a good work-life balance, and strengthening company reputation and retention along the way.