Unless you’ve only ever been your own boss (lucky you!), you’ve probably worked somewhere where morale was low and turnover was high. Sometimes, the duties of a job aren’t as great as they sounded in the job description. And sometimes there’s a clash of values that makes hanging out with your coworkers a chore.

At LinkNow Media, we believe in the importance of fostering a healthy corporate culture. A business with a healthy office culture is an environment where everyone is treated with dignity and respect, but not one that’s so inflexible that fun is forbidden.

What does healthy corporate culture come down to? Ultimately, it’s about shared values. A value that an office can care about together is the value of hard work or respect for others. In toxic workplaces, the shared value might be individualism at the expense of teamwork, or the shared value could be chauvinism. It’s important to set good examples from the top down and never lose sight of your company’s purpose, especially in staffing decisions.

Ways to Build Employee Morale

Have your employees been looking drab lately?At the end of a busy season, burnout is very possible, especially when everyone’s been working their hardest.

Have a robust HR department. I know it sounds like a joke, but the job of human resources is to make sure everyone is treated fairly. This means that office policies get codified and written down so everyone is on the same page. This can go a long way towards making everyone feel included and safe at their job. Brainstorm with the office the values that keep you together, or participate in other team-building activities. At LinkNow Media, we’re always trying to encourage a fun and respectful atmosphere. Your workplace isn’t just about the work that you do, it’s about the time you spend together. That’s why every year we participate in charity drives—giving back to the community helps us remember our places in the wider world around us! Encourage your employees to have lives outside of their work. Sure, when you’re a workaholic, your office is your life, but for many people, work-life balance is essential to productivity. It may seem counterintuitive, but if your team has been pulling 80-hour workweeks and you notice morale lowering, encourage them to take some time off when the big project is finished. Have a business you can believe in. It’s hard to sell a lemon. When your employees don’t believe in your product or service, asking them to devote their time to it is tough. At LinkNow Media, we love the beautiful websites we make for our clients.

Few things can be as important to your business for attracting and keeping top talent than developing a strong workplace culture. We hope you’ve enjoyed this little guide as part of our office culture series. And if you want to work at a marketing agency where people come first, call LinkNow Media or check our “job board” !