A company is a community of people, each having unlimited potential, who agree to work with others. The quality of the interactions and relationships within the workplace dictates what gets done and how well. So when the workplace isn’t healthy, neither is the company. An unhealthy company is not an environment conducive to sound decision-making. Therefore, it’s important to monitor the health of your company.
Here are a couple of key indicators:
Stress-related illness: Frequent incidences of stress-related illness suggest that a company’s workplace is unhealthy. This doesn’t mean that a small business should panic if someone calls in sick. But if the employee repeatedly calls in sick, take the time to look more deeply.
Ethical decision-making: The business culture can reinforce ethical behavior or encourage unethical behavior. The following conditions influence the likelihood of ethical decision-making:
A person’s well-being and sense of security: Do employees feel valued? Are they part of an important endeavor? Companies that demonstrate care and compassion for employees emphasize well-being and sustain an environment for ethical decisions.
Workplace conditions: How well do your employees relate to one another? The healthier the workplace, the higher the probability of ethical decisions. Companies that don’t pay attention to the workplace environment set themselves up for poor decisions at every level but more likely at the top.
How power is used: How much influence do employees have on the company’s direction and relationships?