Why is a Workplace not called an Employee Community?
I’ve been thinking…
Why aren’t workplaces considered Employee Communities? This is a thought that has gone through my mind many times since the breadcrumb journey of Hygge was placed in front of me.
I find it interesting and somewhat quizzical that we consider neighborhoods we choose to live in, places of worship, organizations we volunteer for, places where we engage and with whom we engage in our favorite hobbies with to be a community. Even people who drive Jeep Wranglers such as myself, are part of the wave and park beside each other Jeep Wrangler Community. However, we don’t consider the place where we spend most of the hours of hour day, the most days of our life, a community. And, not just any community, but an Employee Community. To take it further, the examples of community I have cited above can often be contained in a workplace. Places of worship are both workplaces and community, workplaces often allow and even encourage employees to volunteer their time and workplaces often sponsor and encourage employees to come together and experience sport or hobby together. So, the sense of community is often woven into the cultural fiber of the workplace, yet in the broadest sense it is still considered a workplace.
A workplace is defined by Merriam Webster as: a place (such as an office, shop, or factory) where people go to work. If you Google workplace you will find all kinds of things, (Workplace from Meta), Regus Workplaces, Workplace Policies, Workplace Harassment/Bullying etc.) but if you Google Employee Community, you will find very little.
I keep asking myself…why is this? We are drawn and choose an organization for very similar reasons we would choose a place of worship, an organization to volunteer or a group to participate or share a hobby. We choose them because of common interests, shared values, common belief in mission, a place we can believe in. Aren’t they the same reasons we choose a place to work?
Yes, I understand the extrinsic reasons why we may choose a place to work such as pay and benefits. Those are important and refer back to the first level of Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, one of the principles of my company Hygge was founded on. But I am writing about the other parts of a workplace, or I would contend an Employee Community, which connects with us intrinsically. I am referring to the parts that allow each individual employee to grow and thrive as a Total Person- the other foundational principle of Hygge. That means creating an atmosphere that allows for recognizing the needs and addressing the needs of the individual employee as well as their families. How present and good is the management team? How much pleasure and fun are the employees having with their duties and with each other? Is equality and diversity promoted and supported at all levels and in all ways? Is gratitude expressed from top to bottom and bottom to top? Is there harmony? Do members of the Employee Community feel safe and secure. Are members of the employee community given the chance to build relationships and create memories? Are they given time to relax and participate in programs that promote individual growth and growth as a community?
When all these exist within a workplace, are valued and are part of the very fiber of the living breathing workplace then the workplace becomes an Employee Community. A community in which all share in the health, growth and life itself of the community.
Planting a seed for thought….
Until next time, may your breadcrumb journey be illuminating, exciting and filled with “Aha” moments.
Elizabeth
