Back to Work? ... The Top 5 Culture Non-Negotiables for Success in 2025!

As we all return to work, focusing on building a connected and thriving workplace culture in 2025 and beyond is paramount!

This edition features the results of the latest global research into workplace culture.

Recent studies from MIT Sloan Management and Gallup highlight key areas that organisations must prioritise to build a cohesive and respectful environment.

The top five culture non-negotiables for 2025:

1. Prioritise Respect in the Workplace

Respect is the foundation of any healthy work environment.

Alarmingly, Gallup reports that only 37% of U.S. employees strongly agree that they are treated with respect at work, matching a record low first observed in 2022.

Gallup research says:

This decline underscores the need for organisations to proactively cultivate civility and respect.

Implementing policies that promote inclusivity, recognising individual contributions, and addressing disrespectful behaviours promptly can help reverse this trend.

Respect Hotspots:

• Lack of Psychological Safety - Team members feel hesitant to speak up or share ideas due to fear of criticism or retaliation.
• Unconscious Bias and Microaggressions - Subtle, often unintentional behaviours that marginalise individuals, leading to exclusion and disengagement.
• Inconsistent Standards of Respect - Different teams or leaders may have varying interpretations of what respect looks like, creating confusion and friction.

Key Culture Action:

Set Standards of Civility and Respect for the whole organisation!

2. Embrace Hybrid Work Models

The debate over hybrid work versus full return-to-office mandates continues.

MIT Sloan Management Review notes that two-thirds of U.S. companies have adopted flexible work policies.

Leaders should focus on strategies that contribute to communication, camaraderie, and culture within hybrid teams.

This includes regular check-ins, virtual team-building activities, and ensuring equitable opportunities for remote and in-office team members.

Hybrid Work Hotspots:

• Communication Gaps - Remote and in-office team members may experience misalignment due to inconsistent communication channels or lack of transparency.
• Unequal Opportunities - Remote team members may feel overlooked for promotions, projects, or workplace perks compared to their in-office counterparts.
• Technology Burnout - Over-reliance on virtual meetings and collaboration tools can lead to fatigue and decreased productivity.

Key Culture Action:

Establish Social Norms and Equitable Opportunities for All inside hybrid communication channels!

?3. Address Toxic Workplace Behaviours

A toxic work environment can severely impact team member well-being and productivity.

Research by MIT Sloan Management Review has identified the top 5 signs of toxicity, including disrespect, non-inclusivity, unethical behaviour, cutthroat practices, and abuse.

Organisations must proactively identify and eliminate these behaviours by establishing clear codes of conduct, providing training, and encouraging open communication.

Toxic Behaviour Hotspots:

• Unchecked Bullying or Harassment - Inappropriate behaviours, such as gossiping, intimidation, or exclusion, that go unaddressed and erode morale.
• Poor Leadership Behaviour - Leaders who model toxic traits - micromanagement, favouritism, or lack of accountability, set a negative tone for the organisation.
• Resistance to Feedback - A culture where constructive feedback is discouraged or ignored, leading to stagnation and unresolved conflicts.

Key Culture Action:

Establish Social Norms and Equitable Opportunities for all communication channels!

4. Focus on Employee Well-being

Employee well-being remains a critical focus.

The American Psychological Association reports that stress among workers globally is at an all-time high:

Organisations should implement mental health strategies and non-programmatic approaches to wellness, such as flexible scheduling, access to counselling services, and promoting a healthy work-life balance.

Well-being Hotspots:

• Work-Life Imbalance - Unrealistic workload expectations and a lack of boundaries leading to burnout and disengagement.
• Limited Mental Health Support - Insufficient access to resources, counselling, or wellness activities, leaving team members feeling unsupported.
• Toxic Productivity Culture - A mindset that glorifies overworking, discouraging team members from taking breaks or time off.

Key Culture Action:

Establish a Connected Team Culture for each team!

?5. Enhance Employee Engagement

Engaged employees are more productive and contribute positively to workplace culture.

However, Gallup's research indicates that U.S. employee engagement has declined, with 3.2 million fewer employees feeling enthusiastic about and involved in their work compared to previous years.

To counteract this, organisations need to provide opportunities for professional development, recognise and reward achievements, and create a sense of purpose among employees.

Employee Engagement Hotspots:

• Lack of Recognition and Appreciation – Team members feel undervalued when their efforts go unnoticed or unrewarded.
• Disconnected Leadership - Leaders who fail to communicate the organisation's vision and values and don't show vulnerability with their team. Team members are left feeling directionless.
• Minimal Growth Opportunities - A lack of professional development, upskilling, or career advancement prospects leads to stagnation and disengagement.

Key Culture Action:

Establish a Connected Team Culture for each team that places a High Value on emotional well-being!

The bottom line is …

Building a connected and thriving culture in 2025 requires a deliberate focus on respect, flexibility, well-being, and engagement.

By addressing these non-negotiables, your organisation can create an environment where team members feel valued, supported, and motivated to contribute their best.

Where to from here?

If you’re committed to elevating your culture in 2025 our suite of upcoming In-Person HALF DAY workshops include:

Building a Connected Team Culture (For Leaders) - Your first steps to building a Connected Culture through elevating trust, activating empathy, and unlocking collective intelligence within your team:

SPECIAL OFFER: Enter the CTC100?promotional code and receive $100 savings per person HERE

Civility and Respect in the Workplace (For Teams) - Learn skills to connect for mutual respect and create shared understanding through workplace courtesy and etiquette (words, phrases, behaviours and attitudes) for today’s workplace:

SPECIAL OFFER: Enter the CAR100?promotional code and receive $100 savings per person HERE

The Art and Science of Navigating Tough Conversations - Turning challenging conversations that trigger defensiveness and fear, into opportunities to build positive relationships, is both an art and a science. Learn the skills to turn conflict into connection with confidence, clarity and calm:

SPECIAL OFFER: Enter the NTC100?promotional code and receive $100 savings per person HERE

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For those of you who are new to my weekly newsletter ‘Respectful Workplace Insights’ it provides strategies for building trust, safety and a thriving inclusive, performance culture.

Thanks for reading Edition 035.

See you next week!

Besides my newsletter, I can help you custom build your connected culture where everyone works better together!

To find out more about building your connected culture in 2025, schedule a free 30minute clarity call with me today ???HERE

Sources:

Gallup.com apa.org sloanreview.mit.edu