Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter earlier this year has shed a bright light on how quickly the sand can shift from under employees’ feet.

“Keep in mind that Twitter will be doing a lot of stupid things in the coming months. We keep what works and change what doesn’t,” said the SpaceX CEO tweeted about his mission for Twitter 2.0. Some of those changes have included mass layoffs to date, some of which are now resulting in lawsuits from employees who say they were not given proper notice or adequate severance pay.

Musk also reinstated former President Donald Trump on the platform, following a controversial public poll, and made a series of changes, including an email to staff that they should be “extremely hardcore” going forward.

Last week, employees at Twitter’s home base in San Francisco were greeted with meeting rooms that had been converted into bedrooms. With unmade mattresses, “boring” curtains, and boardroom-style telepresence monitors, this looks to be Musk’s new take on just how hardcore things are going to get.

With so many employees now either leaving of their own accord or receiving notices to quit, Twitter’s former internal tagline of #lovewhereyouwork must ring hollow to the employees who stay.

Authenticity is important

For younger employees in particular, it is really important that the companies and institutions they work for are at the forefront of both vision and values. According to a 2021 Gartner study, 50 percent of employees report that the pandemic has changed the expectations they have of their employers.

Gallup too asked more than 13,000 employees what mattered most to them when deciding whether to accept a job offer from a new employer, and 42% of respondents said “the organization is diverse and includes all types of people”.

It is millennial and Gen Z workers in particular who now expect the companies and institutions they work for to be authentic forces for good, upholding the same values ​​and visions they promote among their workforce.

This means companies need to be explicit about their values. They should clearly communicate policies and guidelines around D&I (diversity and inclusion) or equality, diversity, inclusion and inclusion (EDIB), as well as ESG (environmental, social and governance).

And companies really need to step up: millennials are expected to make up 75% of the workforce by 2025, and Gen Z workers will make up 30% of the workforce by 2030, meaning if they’re dissatisfied, they’ll find work at a company that does align with their values.

A 2018 UK study from Huawei, in collaboration with Goldsmiths University, backs this up. Based on responses from 2,000 Generation Zs in the UK, the data showed that this cohort is more likely to be motivated by job satisfaction and working for social welfare than money.

Companies are doing well

While it’s nice to be nice, the fact is that when a company focuses on values, the bottom line benefits. According to a study by WorkbuzzD&I is a clear driver for organizational success.

Having a top team that is diverse is highly correlated with profitability, and inclusive leaders can drive a 17% increase in team performance – as well as a 29% increase in team collaboration.

The study also found that organizations that focus on the engagement of people with disabilities are 2.9 times faster in revenue and 4.1 times faster in profits than their peers. It is very important for companies to remember that, especially when it comes to D&I, there is no one-size-fits-all solution and no “final situation” to achieve — this work must continue.

So, which companies should you look to if you want to transition to one where values ​​and vision matter?

The very first employee resource group at Google was the Gayglers (later renamed PRIDE at Google) and was created by LGBTQ+ Googlers. The company continued to act and speak out on behalf of same-sex marriage, and in 2011 pioneered transgender-inclusive healthcare to also cover transitional procedures and treatments. View the current options at Google here.

When it comes to ESG, Apple is making strides. The company has an ambitious goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2030 and currently says that about 20% of the materials used in its products are made from recycled material. It has also reduced its carbon footprint by 40% in 2021 compared to 2015. See all job openings at Apple now.

Professional services company Accenture has been voted #1 in the Refinitiv Diversity & Inclusion Index for the third time in five years. It is committed to a gender-balanced workforce by 2025 and its people with disabilities have access to the latest technology, resources and training for a barrier-free workplace. The company also has policies for LGBTIQ+, underrepresented communities, and mental health and wellness support. View all Accenture vacancies here.

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