Global human capital management company Dayforce, Inc. has released results from its 15th Annual Pulse of Talent report. This report explores the current state of organisational culture – and the differing perceptions among workers, managers, HR leaders, and executives. The survey takes in the views of 9,489 workers from around the world and shows that investments many companies are making may not be moving the needle.
“For organisations, cultivating a strong culture is a constant balancing act between productivity and agility and creating a space where people can do their best work,” said Amy Cappellanti-Wolf, Chief People Officer, Dayforce, Inc. “Our research shows that organisations that invest in culture – specifically, aligning their benefits, initiatives, and technology with the needs of their people – will have an advantage when attracting and retaining top talent and building a high-performing workforce.”
With leaders under pressure to quantify the value of every dollar spent, it’s increasingly important their investments in culture drive high performance. For the first time, the Dayforce Pulse of Talent report included a Workplace Culture Index, grouping respondents into three categories – Culture Promoters, Culture Passives, and Culture Detractors. Respondents most positive about their company culture said there were three areas where their company excelled, relative to those who are most negative about their company culture:
- Supporting productivity with the right technology: Culture Promoters were more than twice as likely as Culture Detractors to say they have the technology they need to do their jobs efficiently (85 per cent vs 39 per cent) and to believe that AI will have a positive impact on culture (67 per cent vs 31 per cent).
- Ensuring benefits provided are aligned with worker needs: Culture Promoters were almost four times more likely than Culture Detractors to say their company benefits are good at meeting their needs (82 per cent vs 21 per cent).
- Providing flexible work options: Culture Promoters were more likely than Culture Detractors to say they have flexibility in how (57 per cent vs 28 per cent), when (54 per cent vs 33 per cent), and where (54 per cent vs 30 per cent) they work. Culture Promoters (91 per cent) were three times more likely than Culture Detractors (29 per cent) to say their employer trusts its employees.
When it comes to AI, the Pulse of Talent survey found a sizable difference between the perceptions of leaders and their workforce. Surveyed executives were 44 per cent more likely than workers to say AI is used responsibly in their company, 48 per cent more likely to say they have a clear understanding of how it is or will be used, and 48 per cent more likely to say AI supports better decision making. This gap in perception helps show that organisations that are intentional about educating their people about the value, benefits, and use cases of AI may better foster meaningful communication and, in turn, support a stronger culture.
The bottom line is that when it comes to building a productive workforce, culture matters. Nearly seven in ten respondents (69 per cent) said they have or would turn down an opportunity because the culture didn’t feel like the right fit, and that number rises to 75 per cent for respondents under the age of 35. At the same time, respondents indicated that by improving company culture, workers would feel more engaged (51 per cent), experience improved mental health and levels of burnout (47 per cent) and be motivated to work harder (46 per cent).
