Maintain culture while working at home but be wary of mental health

Salt Lake City-based CHG Healthcare, the nation's largest privately held healthcare staffing company, has released the results of a nationwide study of more than 800 U.S. workers; revealing attitudes and sentiments toward workplace culture; working from home; mental health; and diversity, equity and inclusion in the midst of a pandemic.

“In a year that has thrown curveball after curveball, it is more important than ever for companies to make sure they are taking care of their employees and that their company culture remains a priority,” said Kevin Ricklefs, chief culture officer at CHG Healthcare. “This survey offers valuable insights into the mind of the current workforce, including how they define culture, what is important to them and how the current pandemic has impacted it. The results can serve as a roadmap for companies at any stage along their culture-building journey.”

The study found that culture can still stay strong during a pandemic, but that employers should check on their employees’ mental health. Nearly three quarters of respondents (74 percent) began working from home due to COVID-19 and despite the disruption that the pandemic has caused in their lives, 54 percent stated that their culture remained the same and 20 percent said that the culture actually improved. However, it is still important to check in on the mental health of employees, as nearly half (48 percent) said their work had a greater impact on their mental well-being during the pandemic.

Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) has emerged as one of the greatest challenges facing businesses today. Seventy percent of respondents said diversity is very or extremely important to them when it comes to a successful workplace culture, and over half of respondents (52 percent) indicated a company’s focus on DEI is important to them when looking for a prospective employer.