More than half (55 per cent) of Canadian employers say it’s up to workers to adapt to company culture, while 45 per cent believe workplace culture should evolve to meet the needs of employees, according to a new survey by the Harris Poll on behalf of Express Services Inc.
The survey, which polled more than 500 Canadian hiring decision-makers and more than 500 employees, found eight in 10 (82 per cent) employers said they already have the tools to train new hires to integrate into the workplace, with 28 per cent strongly confident in their organization’s ability to foster cultural alignment from day one. By comparison, a majority (56 per cent) of employees said companies should be the ones to adapt, while 44 per cent said the responsibility still rests with employees.
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Women (62 per cent) were more likely than men (51 per cent) to say employers should adjust to employee needs. Younger workers were also more likely to expect cultural change, with 61 per cent of generation Z and 63 per cent of millennials supporting employer adaptation, compared to 43 per cent of generation X and 45 per cent of baby boomers.
Despite the divide, employers signalled openness to change. Nearly eight in 10 hiring managers said their organization is willing to evolve its culture to meet broader business needs. The top drivers for change include retaining existing employees (37 per cent), improving morale (37 per cent), attracting qualified candidates (31 per cent), expanding appeal to job seekers (31 per cent) and reducing burnout (31 per cent).
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