Oh boy. This isn’t what I was expecting to write. My articles are usually written after I’ve had an “ah-ha” moment or an epiphany. This month I was going to write a serious article on ‘Creating a Positive Trust Culture’. Don’t read any further if that is what you’re expecting.
My dog is sitting at my feet, and I’m in blue jeans and an old hoody. It’s comfy as heck. In a moment, I’ll take the biscuits I made out of the oven.
I like working from home and it looks like many of us do.
According to a New York Times article, 86% of employees were happy working from home and only 1 in 5 wanted to go back to the office full time.
When I was still looking for a job, the best way to get one was to have a friend refer you. It still is, but you need to be aware of a few things when looking for a job. One thing you may not have considered is how to recognize if you’re stepping into a company that has a positive trust culture.
Before you submit a resume, do a quick review of what people who’ve worked for the company are saying. Right now, you can’t walk into a building and waylay people walking out to find out what they think. OK, most of us wouldn’t do that before 2020, but it’s virtually impossible to do it now. Well, maybe not virtually impossible! (See what I did there?)
Employer review sites can give us in-depth information on a company, as seen from employees who have worked there. It takes a bit of legwork but, heck, wouldn’t you rather find out the boss is a creep before you decide to work for them? And you might discover a gem of a boss and company you could have overlooked.
Go to Glassdoor, Indeed, Comparably, or a number of other reviewer sites and find out what former employees have to say. Think of these review sites as YELP for employees.
Beware of disgruntled former employees or people who have filled out an overly positive review. Each could give you a skewed perspective. Trust the overall rating if enough people have submitted a review.
All of the glossy stuff you read on the company website was created by a marketing team and doesn’t always reflect what is going on in the company. Do a comparison. A culture that can be trusted is one where what they say and what they do is aligned.
Since culture is built on shared experiences and informal interactions, how do companies create a positive trust culture when no one is physically together?
Find the answers to these questions:
- Would a person who works for the company recommend it to their best friend?
- Do you see examples of how they care for the mental wellbeing of their employees?
- How will your work be evaluated and rewarded?
- Does the company consider how technology impacts the person?
- How do the leaders stay connected to their employees?
Finding a positive workplace culture is still the basics of great leadership, appreciation, inclusion, wellbeing and opportunity. Trust is at the heart of success.