Company values examples: How to create a unified company culture

According to Gallup, global employee engagement declined to 20% in 2025, marking only the second drop in the past 12 years. This decline cost the global economy an estimated $438 billion (approximately £329 billion GBP) in lost productivity, and 20% of employees reported experiencing loneliness in the workplace.

The data paints a sobering picture: workplace wellbeing is unravelling, and businesses are paying the price. However, these statistics underscore the importance of fostering strong company values and culture. These should be rooted in clear, actionable ethics that prioritise wellbeing and build connected teams.

When employees feel connected to their company’s mission and values, they’re more likely to be engaged, productive and satisfied. However, misalignment can lead to disengagement, lower morale and higher turnover.

In this article, we'll explore essential company value examples that can serve as the foundation for a thriving business culture. We'll also discuss how these can help enhance employee engagement, align teams with business goals, and contribute to long-term success.

Key takeaways

• Unified company values can improve employee engagement, boost productivity and positively impact your business’s bottom line.
• Creating core company values helps align you and your teams with wider organisational goals, helping you meet your mission.
• Being flexible and transparent when communicating core values with employees is vital to ensuring their long-term effectiveness.

Why company values matter

Company values are more than just words on a wall. They are the guiding principles that shape every aspect of your organisation. When clearly defined and consistently applied, these core values influence hiring decisions, daily operations and long-term strategies, creating a cohesive and purpose-driven workplace.

When companies implement human-centric values—ones that are visionary, ethical, work-oriented and customer-oriented—they can positively impact employee performance and motivation, thereby influencing your business’s bottom line.

Creating and reinforcing core company values can also help in the following ways:

Improved employee engagement

The UK was recently ranked among the lowest in Europe for employee engagement, with only 10% of employees reporting they were engaged in their jobs. Engaged employees may be more productive, satisfied, and committed to their roles.

Business goals alignment

Company values provide a framework for decision-making, ensuring that actions at all levels align with your mission and objectives. When you integrate values into everyday activities, you can strengthen alignment and drive business success.

Attracting and retaining talent

A strong set of company values can attract candidates who resonate with your culture, resulting in better fits and lower turnover. Culture is also a critical component in retaining top talent.

Higher profitability

Organisations with a clear set of company values often achieve better financial performance. At UK organizations with strong cultures and values, the vast majority (89%) of employees are willing to put in extra work, 22% higher than average UK organisations.

15 company value examples that fuel a thriving culture

Building a strong company culture starts with defining values that guide your team’s behaviours, decisions, and work ethic. Below, we explore 15 core value examples that have the power to transform your workplace.

1. Integrity

Integrity forms the foundation of any strong organisation. When your team understands and practices honesty and transparency, it leads to trust, alignment, and consistent decision-making. Foster an open communication culture where honesty is valued, integrity is evaluated in the hiring process, and mistakes are viewed as learning opportunities.

Even large multinational companies like Amazon build trust by promoting integrity in their interactions with customers and employees.

2. Innovation

Encouraging innovation empowers employees to contribute new ideas and solutions, keeping your company competitive and forward-thinking. Create an environment and company values that encourage experimentation and motivate employees to do the right thing as part of their learning.

Companies like Google actively encourage innovation by offering spaces and opportunities for employees to develop creative solutions.

3. Collaboration

By working together, employees can leverage varied skills and perspectives, ultimately driving better results. Encourage cross-functional teams and set up team-building exercises to encourage collaboration.

4. Accountability

A culture of accountability ensures that every employee takes ownership of their actions, leading to better performance and trust. Set clear expectations within your company values and provide regular feedback to help employees stay on track.

5. Respect

Respect creates an inclusive environment where every employee feels valued and heard. Ensure you and your company values lead by example—treat others with respect and encourage employees to do the same in all interactions.

Cultures defined by inclusion and respect promote psychological safety, which enables employees to be their best selves and do their best work.

6. Customer-centricity

A customer-first approach helps ensure that your business is always aligned with customer needs, ultimately driving loyalty and long-term success. Regularly gather customer feedback and use it to guide product development, mission statements, and service improvements.

7. Diversity and inclusion

Embracing diversity and fostering inclusion leads to more creative, innovative teams and ensures everyone feels welcome and valued. Companies like Adobe have embedded diversity and inclusion at the heart of their operations, promoting a culture of belonging.

8. Sustainability

Sustainability isn't just about environmental impact—it’s also about creating long-term value for stakeholders and communities. This is done by showing your commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR). Build company sustainability goals and values into your business operations and involve employees in environmental initiatives.

9. Excellence

Striving for excellence motivates employees to achieve their best work and drives continuous organisational improvement across all areas of your business. Companies that prioritise excellence can count on their teams to innovate and deliver high-quality work.

10. Empathy

Empathy in the workplace allows employees to connect on a deeper level, fostering stronger relationships and a more supportive environment. Offer empathy training for leaders to better understand and respond to employee needs, and integrate these continuous improvement plans into your company values.

11. Adaptability

Adaptability ensures that your team can pivot in response to new challenges, shifting markets or external pressures, helping businesses stay competitive. Companies like Microsoft embrace adaptability, encouraging employees to thrive in changing environments.

12. Transparency

When leadership is open about a company’s direction, performance and obstacles, employees feel more connected to the overall mission. Share key business updates and performance metrics with the entire team to maintain alignment and build a sense of ownership.

13. Work-life balance

Prioritising work-life balance helps employees avoid burnout and maintain long-term productivity and wellbeing. Offer flexible work arrangements, wellness programs, and time off policies as part of your core company values to support employees in balancing their personal and professional lives.

14. Fun

Creating a fun workplace boosts morale, fosters creativity and strengthens team relationships. Incorporate team-building activities, social events or fun office spaces to encourage a more relaxed and positive work environment.

15. Learning and development

A strong learning and development program helps companies stay innovative and ensures that employees remain competitive in their roles. Offer access to training programs, mentorship opportunities and career development resources (then track it as a metric) to help employees grow both personally and professionally.

Next steps: Track your progress and impact

Building out your company values from these examples is one thing, but you need to ensure they’re effectively implemented and consistently tracked and improved. If you’re completely reinventing your core values, start small. Implement easier workplace changes first and ensure you communicate them with your teams. Soon, you’ll have the building block of a new company culture.