Meaningful Workplaces: Reframing How and Where We Work

The Business Case for Values-Based Cultures

The Families and Work Institute conducted a national study in 1997 that found the quality of workers’ jobs and the supportiveness of their workplace are the most significant predictors of job satisfaction, commitment to their employer, and retention. Job and workplace characteristics are far more important than pay and benefits (which are generally competitive with the marketplace). In fact, the research delved deeper into the work environment and discovered that it is actually a significant source of employees’ problems. In other words, at those workplaces that are unsupportive and have overly demanding jobs, employees tend to carry their stress home. In fact, it creates a vicious cycle of work ...