Everyone Matters, the not-for-profit advancing workplace culture in financial services, has conducted a new survey to explore how employees across financial and non-financial companies feel about their working environment today.
The findings reveal that companies must urgently evolve their cultural strategies to reflect a fast-changing world, with strong employee support for caring, purpose-led environments and growing scrutiny of leadership, inclusion and wellbeing.
Caring and purpose-led cultures most resonate with employees
When asked what kind of organisational culture resonates most, 25% of respondents selected a ‘caring’ culture, with ‘purpose’ the second most popular choice (18%). A generational split was also clear: younger respondents aged 18–34 were more likely to be drawn to purpose, while older cohorts prioritised care.
Psychological safety still lacking
Despite widespread recognition of the value of inclusive and respectful environments, 50% of respondents said they had experienced or witnessed coercive behaviour at work – undermining psychological safety and diversity of thought. These behaviours often go unreported, with younger and older employees less likely to raise concerns than those in middle age.
The findings highlight a significant risk for financial services firms, particularly given their regulatory responsibilities and duty of care to clients.
Leadership: values aligned, but transparency is a concern
Positively, 75% of respondents believe their leaders exemplify the organisation’s stated values – a key foundation for strong culture. However, 37% said leadership decisions are not transparent or inclusive, highlighting a need for better communication and openness from the top.
The findings also show strong support for so-called ‘eco’ leadership styles, where leaders foster a sense of shared ownership and empower teams to contribute ideas and develop solutions. This approach is well-aligned with the shift towards caring and purpose-led cultures.
Wellbeing gains are uneven across generations
While 81% of respondents said they can balance their work and personal lives, and 72% said their organisation has improved its mental health and wellbeing offering in the past year, younger employees felt differently. Almost half (47%) of those aged 18–34 disagreed that progress had been made.
This reflects the complexity of modern workplace culture, where a one-size-fits-all approach no longer works. Just as companies segment communications for clients, the same approach should now be applied internally to ensure cultural alignment across diverse employee groups.
Pat Sharman of Everyone Matters commented, “Companies need to walk the talk and stay true to their core values. If they do, it will be reflected in a positive corporate culture, which benefits everyone in the workplace.
“In today’s more complex world of work, a ‘caring’ culture is not a soft option – it’s a strategic one. It’s about building trust, connection and psychological safety – all of which are essential in workplaces where employees are expected to be agile, innovative and resilient. This is especially true in financial services, a sector under growing pressure to act responsibly as stewards of society’s financial assets.
“Leadership plays a defining role. Our findings show that employees respond best to what we describe as an ‘Eco’ leadership style – one that empowers people to contribute, ask questions and feel heard. When combined with a culture that values diversity of thought, this kind of leadership can unlock the creativity, accountability and resilience that high-performing workplaces need.”
These findings are based on responses from 221 employees across Financial Services (38%), Professional Services (22%), and other sectors (40%), offering a snapshot of how workplace culture is being experienced and evaluated today.
A link to the full whitepaper on this research can be found HERE.
