The reasons why Google has for seven years occupied the number one spot in the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For list (2017) epitomize what constitutes a supportive work environment that fosters trust and employee satisfaction. Whereas adequate remuneration and a retirement fund used to be considered the benchmarks for motivating employees, research has consistently shown that workplace culture “plays a deciding role in retaining and binding people to an organization,” (“Why it's Important to Build a Good Work Culture,” n.d.). Workplace culture is the “ecosystem” of the workplace, the contextual and environmental factors that go far beyond just the tasks at hand,” (“Why it's Important to Build a Good Work Culture,” n.d.). Sometimes, workplace culture elements are difficult to define; it comes down to a normative environment. For instance, it is difficult to pinpoint why some workplaces generate a “fun” environment, but many do, especially companies like Google. A deeper examination of workplace culture elements from the most successful companies in my field (marketing) show that it is indeed possible to quantify and explain these tangible elements of workplace culture. Those elements include supportiveness, work/life balance issues, and empowerment. Support refers to the...

We do not necessarily need to like each person on a personal level, or socialize with people outside of work, but while at work, we collaborate on projects. Even people like me who prefer working independently recognize the need for support as key to a good workplace environment. Support means that my colleagues “watch each others’ back,” (“Workplace Culture Is Key to Employee Satisfaction,” 2015, p. 1). For example, Baird, one of the Fortune 500 top five places to work, happens to be an investment firm that eschews the aggressively competitive nature of the investment banking sector. Instead, Baird creates a “company culture that values integrity and teamwork,” (“The 100 Best Companies to Work For,” 2017). A supportive work environment is competitive in a fun way, like playing sports with friends.
Another crucial aspect of workplace culture that I intend to find in my own field is the work/life balance. Also framed sometimes as “self-care,” the work/life balance is created in several ways, depending on the organization (“The 100 Best Companies to Work For,” 2017). For example, some companies have flexible scheduling options for people with families, offering…