I have always struggled with values In the workplace until I set up our charity. I think I struggled with values because my previous workplace presented their values as being core to everything, but actually was everything but.
I do pride myself that our values are part if everything that we do at the charity, it felt like it took forever to come up with the values but I am proud of them.
So what are they:
- Self Development
- Heart of the Community
- Innovative
- Non judgemental
- Empathic
Shine – we shine everyday!
Since the covid outbreak I have had so many clients questioning their position on the workplace and on more than 4 occasions values in the workplace has been discussed. Lockdown provided people with a time of reflection to explore the meaning to their own life. Reassessing work life balance, more people being able to work from home have found they are able to get a better balance.
For most workplaces now the pressure is on as a result of some kind from covid, pressures at schools to help the children catch up, pressures in retail to help get targets met, pressures in hospitality to get people through the doors again, pressures in health and social care to work through their waiting lists.
Even though the cost of living is going up, individuals are recognising how their workplace can be costing them their mental health and wellbeing and so are looking at the wider benefits that their workplace provides. Values in the workplace are more important now more than ever, individuals questioning if their workplace upholds their values and if they do, do the values fit their own personal values?
I am hearing of many charities whose mission in the community does not match how they treat their own staff team. Certainly many businesses are not able to uphold their values anymore due to changes in targets and the way they now work.
In any workplace, values matter and staff teams matter even more. Its important all workplaces uphold their values that their staff team signed up to.