Change happens constantly in the workplace. It can be large-scale, such as a merger or acquisition, or a day-to-day change like a new tech system for a sales team. Add to that the increased mobility of U.S. workers: Achievers, the company I work for, surveyed 1,724 employees and found that 74% of North American employees planned to look for a new job last year.

Candidates are seeking workplaces where they can intertwine their beliefs with those of the company, and work together on a common vision of purpose and success. As leaders grapple with how to recruit top candidates and retain employees, they must rethink how they’re shaping and building a culture that unites people around a common cause. Great culture should provide continuous alignment to the vision, purpose, and goals of the organization.

Most business leaders today agree that providing an inclusive workplace—that is, one in which employees feel valued and accepted without reservation—is critical in ensuring both employee and business success. Achieving this goal, however, is more challenging than it appears at first glance. Designing and delivering on the promise of a truly inclusive workplace requires securing both buy-in and commitment across the entire organization, which is a daunting task.

The term is a bit of a misnomer, because quiet quitters aren’t walking away from their jobs. Instead they’re renouncing hustle culture, quitting “the idea of going above and beyond at work,” as TikTok user zaidleppelin said in a July post that has amassed more than 3 million views and helped popularize the phrase. The trend is resonating strongly with those Gen Z and millennial knowledge workers fighting to rewrite the rules of the workplace.

Company culture is the foundation of an organization and is defined by the values, goals, attitudes and practices shared by employees. It is a living, breathing entity, and its growth and vibrancy is dependent on the level of care and attention that an organization provides.

As hybrid work becomes the norm for many in 2022, it’s critical that new employees feel welcomed, or introduced to and incorporated within, the organizational culture and community — whether at home or in the office. Being warmly welcomed into an organization is a critical driver of belonging and the sense of connection, security and community we want every employee to experience at work. 

Given that two-thirds of employees are likely to job-hunt in 2022, most organizations are thinking more deeply about how to engage and retain existing employees. Between the ongoing pandemic, a worsening labor shortage and a workforce on the edge of burnout, there is a massive need to focus on retention and providing employees with support and recognition.