Here’s what most C-suites have been taught: Download a “culture template,” slap your logo on it, throw in a team lunch, and call yourself a ‘Destination Workplace™’. Unfortunately, we are operating in very different times, and today’s workforce has different expectations.

Workplace culture is no longer a side dish on the HR buffet; it’s the main course. According to theNational Workplace Trends Study, 80% of American workers say having a sense of purpose is essential for job satisfaction, and 83% say connecting with their company’s mission is vital.  That doesn’t happen because someone borrowed Google’s core values off the internet and stuck them in a slide deck.

The Problem with Copy-Paste Culture

Most companies start with good intentions. They want a great culture, so they look at what’s working for “the cool kids”; you know, the tech giants with nap pods, boba tea, and mission statements that sound like TED Talks.

Here’s the problem: culture isn’t a one-time build commodity; it’s a custom build.

Culture is the sum of your mission in action, values displayed in daily interactions, organizational behaviors being modeled, recognition of culture habits, and how positive the employee experience is throughout the entire employee journey. A Destination Workplace™ isn’t built by copying someone else’s perks; it’s built by crafting experiences your employees actually value, consistency in core values, and accountability from leadership.

When company leaders don’t actually model their company’s values, the culture feels manufactured, forced, and void of meaning. Employees see that disconnect and start heading for the exits.

That’s why when companies bring us in, we always start with our Destination Workplace™ Culture Audit. We have found in our recent research that employees don’t want a ping-pong table. They wanted to be heard. They wanted leadership to act with integrity, give real feedback, and tie recognition to actual performance.

We help companies rebuild their culture from the inside out; not with a template, but with insights gained from our audit, strategy and accountability, training, and buy-in from top to bottom. When this happens, retention goes up. Engagement goes up. And guess what? People actually feel proud to work at your company.

Bulletproof Tips: Build a Culture Worth Keeping

Want to build a culture people stay for (and rave about on Glassdoor/Indeed)? Start here:

1. Diagnose & Get Real Insights. Conduct a culture audit that focuses on the employee experience to understand the real culture gaps and potential flight risks.
2. Turn core values into recognition stories. If “respect” is a core value, share how someone on the team played that out in meetings, customer interactions, and team communication.
3. Train for it. Culture isn’t set-and-forget. Equip your leaders to live the culture you are building, not just talk about it.
4. Make core values real. Tie them to recognition programs and behaviors displayed, not just outcomes. Tie them to coaching & disciplinary conversations. 
5. Focus on what matters. Perks are great, but our studies show that trust, transparency, and career growth are what employees truly want today. Train on those traits and skills in your leadership development programs.
   
   

Bottom Line

A culture that’s copy-pasted will feel like it. And in a market where 42% of Gen Z employees are actively job hunting, you can’t afford a culture that’s all style and no substance.

If you're ready to stop imitating and start innovating within your culture, let’s talk. At Destination Workplace™, we help organizations build a Destination Workplace culture—one that attracts top talent, ignites purpose, and makes people proud to work there.

VisitDestinationWorkplace.com to start building the kind of workplace no one wants to leave, or visit BetsyAllenManning.com to bring Betsy in to speak at one of your leadership or C-suite events.

About Betsy: Featured on FOX, CBS, NBC, and ABC, Betsy Allen-Manning is a leadership keynote speaker, workplace culture expert, and best-selling author who helps executives and HR leaders strengthen employee engagement, improve retention, and prepare for the future of work. Betsy’s thought leadership and original research in the National Workplace Trends Study and the Destination Workplace™ framework equips organizations with data-driven strategies to build cultures where people apply, engage, contribute, and stay. She is also the founder of an award-winning company known for providing top leadership training in Dallas, and is recognized for advancing leadership excellence and driving workplace culture transformations worldwide.