By Victoria Knepp, Consultant

Recently I was doing research for a client about company culture. Here’s what I found.

This time last year, Gallup reported:

• 48% of U.S. employees were actively job searching.
• 74% of employees said they experienced burnout on the job at least “sometimes.”

This year, Gallup reports:

• Fewer than 1 in 4 employees feel strongly that their organization cares about their well-being.

YIKES. Shocking, right? If your answer is not really, then we’re in the same boat. I feel like lately there’s been an overwhelming trend of employees being overworked and underappreciated – especially in the past few tumultuous years – so culture has become an even hotter buzzword these days.

Everywhere you look, you see it. Apparently, every company has a great culture. But, what does that mean? I think the more important question is, what do you think a “great” culture is? Is it happy hours? Free lunches and snacks? A nap lounge? Strong company values? Flexible work arrangements? Again, define “flexible” please.

What I’ve learned (not that I’m some expert – I’m not that old… yet) is that company culture truly comes down to the people and the leadership.

I worked with Rasor as intern-turned-Account Associate a few years back. I adventured elsewhere for a few years, and now I’m back as an Account Executive (movin’ on up!).

I recently had a baby, and when you have a baby, baby-ing is a full-time job in itself – all day long, and all night long. (Please say a prayer for our little gal with BOTH top teeth cutting through right now. I’m pretty sure the entire neighborhood isn’t sleeping!) So, doing anything else in any capacity can be really, really hard. Finding the mental capacity, and the chutzpah to work has been really, really hard.

Now, we’re coming back to my culture bit. Here’s what I’ve felt since coming back to Rasor.

I’ve felt tired. (Remember, teething baby over here!) Not just in the physical sense though, mentally too. But, I’ve had teammates who have jumped on the “let’s get the creative juices (and coffee) flowing, together” wagon with me.

I’ve felt overwhelmed. But, I’ve also felt comfortable enough to say so without repercussions. In those times, I’ve had help prioritizing, I’ve had a team that rallies together to get things done, and I’ve been given grace.

I’ve felt excited. I will say, our clients aren’t Gatorade or McDonalds, so sometimes the writing, the research, the work isn’t the sexiest. But, it’s incredibly gratifying to do work for clients that feel so, so passionate about what they’re doing.

I’ve felt appreciated. When you have a job, it is your job to do your job. That seems like a weird sentence I know, but read it again. It’s nicer, better, easier – insert your favorite adjective here – to do something when you feel appreciated for doing it, right? I have a team at Rasor who thanks me and compliments me, just for doing my job.

I’ve felt supported. Not only as an employee with work tasks, but as a person, a mom, and gosh, as a human living through the pandemic.

Now, I don’t know about you, but I’d say that’s a pretty “great” culture.

Recently on one of our weekly Team Huddles (another “great” culture thing here, a weekly meeting with the entire team), Our president, Mimi Rasor, said, “I just want everyone to know how important and how valued you are.” Not only does she say that, you feel that here.

Word on the street is that we’re hiring. If you’re looking for a great culture and you just so happen to love writing, research, and are digital marketing savvy, we’re your people. Follow us on LinkedIn to see job postings and learn more about us at GoRasor.com.