Corporate Culture Through the Eyes of New Employees

Abstract

Purpose – The aim of this study is to understand corporate culture from the perspective of new employees and to reveal how this culture is reflected in their onboarding processes. In today's competitive business world, corporate culture is not only a fundamental element shaping a company's external image, but also a factor determining employee loyalty, motivation, and performance.

Design/methodology/approach – The research was conducted using a phenomenological design, a qualitative research method, with 37 participants who have been working in various private sector companies in Şanlıurfa for the past year. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and subjected to content analysis using the MAXQDA 20 package program.

Findings – The data obtained indicate that the organizational structure and communication styles were decisive in participants' first impressions. Positive impressions included a streamlined orientation process, cordial team relationships, and open communication, while negative impressions included a hectic workload, a lack of information, and bureaucratic confusion. Participants also emphasized the impact of organizational values on motivation, the extent to which these values were lived out in practice, and the social support role of managers. New employees' interactions with their teams and managers directly influenced the pace of onboarding and their sense of belonging. Additionally, some participants shared examples and experiences that facilitated or complicated their understanding of the organizational culture.

Discussion and Conclusion – The research and experiences of new employees demonstrate that corporate culture is not simply a structure defined by management but is also constantly reproduced through employee interactions. These findings offer important insights for organizations to strengthen their orientation programs, increase open communication channels, and make values visible in daily practices.