NOVEMBER 2023HR TECH OUTLOOK EUROPE8In MyOpinionThe organisational culture of a company is a key aspect of any business, no one would argue with that. It can be described as the set of beliefs, values and attitudes of a company, and how these influence the behaviour of staff. It is widely recognised that when employees are connected to the corporate culture, they will feel more engaged and aligned - so corporate culture can be a strong value proposition for an employer. Among the qualities illustrating a functional organisational culture, we traditionally find values such as alignment on vision, purpose and goals, appreciation and recognition, trust, performance, teamwork, resilience, integrity, innovation and psychological safety.Renewi is facing a twofold transition, which makes the issues related to organisational culture doubly challenging. On the one hand, there is a structural transition. Renewi was formed in 2017 from the merger of the British Shanks and the Dutch Van Gansewinkel. This merger brought together two companies with strong historical roots, each with a very specific corporate culture. Over the years, the employees of both companies have developed certain work habits and ways of doing things that do not necessarily align. A second, more recent transition concerns the transition of the business model and strategic positioning. Renewi, via Van Gansewinkel and Shanks, has historically been a waste collector. However, a strategic shift has been underway for some time, aimed at positioning the company not upstream, with waste collection, but downstream, with the production of raw materials. In doing so, Renewi aims to be a waste-to-product company and a fully invested player in the circular economy.Developing a strong organisational culture in the context of change is certainly not an easy task, but it is one of Renewi's priorities and one in which I believe very strongly.Alignment of vision, purpose and goalsFirstly, special attention is paid to aligning with Renewi's vision and mission, which are truly the pillars of the company. Our efforts are aimed at ensuring each employee feels fully invested in these key values, so they underpin their daily work. We are working on alignment with our mission and vision through clear integration and repetition in our communication across various internal channels.Branding efforts also directly support this goal. For example, the "Renewing Earth" campaign, which we launched a year ago, has an external component, of course, but it also aims to unite all employees and get them working together towards a common goal.This alignment with the vision and goal is also reinforced by the initiatives we take to encourage our employees to use materials or products sustainably, for example by electrifying our fleet or encouraging carpooling.We are seeing these efforts pay off with our current employees, but also in our recruitment efforts. Devoting time and energy to an employer who is committed to sustainability is a growing priority Kirsten Yperman, HR Director Belgium, Renewi [LON : RWI]ORGANISATIONAL CULTURE IN TIMES OF CHANGE: HOW WORKING FOR A COMPANY WITH A PURPOSE CAN HELP!Kirsten YpermanBy
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