Why culture matters—and how to help yours thrive

We seem, at long last, to have recovered from the 2008 economic crash that pushed unemployment rates above Great Depression-era levels.

The U.S. Labor Department recently reported that unemployment claims hit a 43-year low.

It’s a job seeker’s market, and companies have to adapt quickly to keep the talent they have, not to mention work harder to recruit new talent at a time when applicants are spoiled for choice.

It’s the main reason that the tenor of the employee engagement conversation has evolved from emphasizing retention to emphasizing company culture.

Culture basics

The conversation shift is not surprising; in an employee’s market, culture is all any organization can rely on to differentiate itself from its competitors. Every employee expects a competitive salary and benefits. Those are easy to get right.