Elena Dolya, Director of Human Resources at AdTech Holding and winner of the “Human Resources Executive of the Year” at Globee’s 2022 Business Excellence Awards, offers tips to create a healthy and vibrant workplace culture to increase productivity and attract quality personnel.
A massive shift in workplaces is underway in the wake of COVID-19, with the move to remote and hybrid working creating significant changes to organizational culture.
The pandemic brought to the forefront of employees’ minds the importance of working in a healthy and modern work environment. Nowadays, when evaluating a prospective position, job seekers take into account the culture of a company and the various benefits it offers to employees, with flexibility being a keyword.
Navigating this contemporary labor landscape, many IT companies try different approaches as they face increasing competition to attract and retain talent, from both local and international rivals.
Nevertheless, what is becoming evident is that there is no one-size fits all solution.
“In times of BANI (brittle, anxious, nonlinear, incomprehensible) world, it is very important not to try to offer one solution for everyone, but to look for unique solutions for each employee, to help him/her both: professionally and personally. The company is already in fact not just your employer, but a true friend who is ready to lend a hand in any situation,” says Elena Dolya, Director of Human Resources at AdTech Holding.
She adds that the pandemic offered a chance for organizations to re-evaluate their priorities and build work environments where employees can feel safe, inspired and productive.
However we define it, workplace culture can be tricky to measure in any tangible way. It’s how it feels to be at work rather than a written list of rules. A culture will naturally form within every company and if left to chance it could come to the detriment of the business. However, by being intentional with your core values, you can create a positive work culture that will inspire your team and help your organization thrive.
According to Elena, focusing on cultural diversity and inclusion by welcoming people from all backgrounds and celebrating their differences, is of paramount importance. Work with the HR department to make diversity a part of your recruitment strategy and ensure diversity and inclusion continue to be foundational elements as your organization grows.
Furthermore, employers and HR managers should strive to treat each employee as an individual. A positive workplace is one where all employees are valued, supported and nurtured. Therefore, it is crucial to find out each employee’s needs and offer solutions to accommodate them. This is guaranteed to work wonders on productivity and will also create a positive feedback loop inside the company, thus increasing retention while helping to attract quality new recruits.
Every individual should feel valued and heard, regardless of their status within the company, Elena says. You never know where the next big idea will come from, so let every employee have a seat at the table and feel free to share their thoughts.
Finally, in 2022, flexibility is all the money. Allow your employees to be human and create space for them to do so while addressing things that come up unexpectedly with compassion. For example, if an employee is struggling to manage their office responsibilities with their family life, work with the individual to find a compromise that allows them to be productive at work without sacrificing their personal life. This way, you’ll earn the respect of your employees rather than the reputation of being unaccommodating.
“Any team can face turbulence – due to high levels of uncertainty, multitasking, stressful situations, disagreements and conflicts within the team, or even personal problems between employees. But if you manage to create a trusting, supportive atmosphere, all these difficulties can be successfully solved and your company will thrive,” Elena stresses.
