How lax is too lax for a corporate culture?
Jasmine Flowers February 1, 2008
A few months ago on 60 Minutes there was a special on the Facebook phenomenon. One aspect that they covered, that I was unaware of, was the laid back workplace environment and corporate culture. It, essentially, is an environment that they described as similar to a “college dormitory, where they get free food and free laundry. Employees show up late, stay late, and party really late…The CEO, Zuckerburg, sits at a desk like other software engineers writing code.” This laid back approach to the workplace environment, that is void of the typically hierarchal structure, is following in the footsteps of the ever so famous search engine Google - where not only do they get free food and laundry, there is also a fitness center, lounge areas interspersed throughout the workspace, and other recreational activities at their disposal. Both Facebook and Google claim the purpose of this approach to their culture is to promote innovation and create a work environment that makes people want to be at work and not feel like they are missing out on the things and people they enjoy outside of work. As a result, employee morale is higher and employees are more committed and loyal to these employers (Google’s attrition is only 4 percent significantly lower than the industry average of about 30%).
Many people will claim that Google’s and Facebook’s corporate culture is a result of the creative nature of the industry as well as the young leadership; however, this week on the Today Show there was a story on how some corporations are allowing mothers to bring their children to work. So instead of lounge chairs, pets, and ping pong tables at this particular company on the Today Show, you might see play pins, bottles, and baby toys in people’s office. Although, it is not the same as Google and Facebook, it is following the model of creating a flexible workplace for employees so that they are more productive.
I think this shift to a more laid back and flexible workplace environment is necessary in today’s marketplace. Companies who adopt this will have a competitive advantage in the war for talent as millennial’s and Gen-Yers will flock to an environment that promotes creativity, hierarchal irrelevance, flexibility, and having a great time at work!
What is your dream workplace environment? Bringing your pet to work, having a TV or sofa in your workspace, or a fitness center? What about the workplace would ignite the creative, innovative bones in your body?
Posted in Human Resources Analytics
February 4th, 2008 at 7:15 am
Dream work environment? How about ROWE (Results-Only Work Environment)? Check out the creators of ROWE and learn more about it at www.caliandjody.com.
March 28th, 2008 at 8:10 am
I’m not sure shifting to a laid back corporate culture gives companies an advantage to recruiting the Wired Generation. The only real advantage to an organization with ping pong tables, open door policy, no dress codes, free food and laundry is that their employees no longer need to leave the office to live life. Employees who remain at their jobs for long periods each day - interspersing their work with trips to the on-site Caribou Coffee, In-and-Out Burger, Wafflehouse and Dry Cleaners - get more work done. Companies like more work. It fosters “innovation” and “productivity” and “performance.” What the Generation misses out on is living. Can you imagine being at work for 15 hours each day - because you can do all the “tasks of living” at your workplace? The only reason you go home for 9 hours is to sleep. Not much of an enticing life if you ask me. I like to see the trees once and awhile.
May 19th, 2008 at 11:17 am
Based in a mountain resort town for the past 11 years, the companies that allow flexible scheduling, allowing time for their employees to enjoy the reason they live in the mountains (i.e. longer lunch breaks a few days a month for skiing or bike ride, a few powder days thrown in there) tend to keep their employees longer and receive more productivity out of them. Before it can work though, the company has to create a good team environment and even more, great trusting relationships between employers, managers and staff. Sometimes a tall order, but I have seen it work extremely well in a town with a lot of turnover due to more than your average seasonal residents.