What makes employees tick? How corporate culture sustains employee engagement in startups A Case Study

In recent years, employee expectations towards their employer have shifted, and staff started to request more than just financial compensation as a reward for their work. In response, companies began to rethink their proposition. However, there is no explicit advice for organizations on how to act upon these new circumstances in the context of startups that helps them understand the perceptions and expectations of employees. Specifically, in hyper-growth startups, employee engagement is crucial as objectives are ambitious and demand high employee performance. Previous studies have examined the link between corporate culture and employee engagement while discussing the perspective of organizations, for instance, how employee engagement enhances business success. Nevertheless, in preparation for the present study, hardly any qualitative research exploring employee perceptions could be found. Consequently, this research aims to fill a gap in the literature by analyzing employees' thoughts on corporate culture and by seeking to understand their attitude towards the company and the aspects that encourage their motivation. In addition, findings will contribute to the existing literature on startups and shed light on this type of company from an internal point of view. The study was guided by the question, "What meaning do startup employees assign to corporate culture to sustain their engagement?" A case study was conducted as part of a qualitative research approach to examine this topic. Within the case study, three startups in different stages of growth were selected as the population, and the sample consisted of employees. Three to five participants per company were asked to be interviewed as part of in-depth interviews. The interviews have revealed that employees value culture as a given context in which open and transparent communication and an open feedback culture are practiced. Moreover, an encouraging team atmosphere and specific opportunities to seek personal development are central demands in corporate culture. From the statements of participants, it could subsequently be concluded that employees likely feel engaged if these expectations are met. Overall, the present study has shown the relevance of fostering a sense of belonging in employees that creates a pleasant work environment for workers. While this will eventually lead to high motivation and everyone performing to the best of their ability, it does not compensate for all dissatisfactions. To be precise, even if employees have positive feelings about the atmosphere at the company, they seek challenges and personal growth. Thus, these are a prerequisite for performing their job and committing to their employer.