Introducing Culture by Design, a podcast from O.C. Tanner

Creating human-centered, high-performing workplaces

This episode, Ed Galasso [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ed-galasso/], VP of Sales and Marketing for O.C. Tanner Canada, is in conversation with HR leader and author, Allana Schmidt [https://www.linkedin.com/in/allanaschmidt/], to unpack how we can create workplaces with a healthy, high performance culture [https://www.octanner.com/global-culture-report/2026-healthy-performance-cultures]—ones where employees are given the high expectations and high support they need to meet their goals.    Allana is a global executive leader with 20 years of experience in HR, operations, strategy, and transformation. Her new book, The High-Performing, Human-Centered Workplace [https://www.amazon.com/High-Performing-Human-Centered-Workplace-Culture-Profits/dp/B0G4F85SZK], uncovers how we can build companies that work for people and profits.  Takeaways 1. Employee wellbeing and improved business outcomes are partners, not rivals. Employees want to be challenged with meaningful work and held to high standards, but they also want to be treated well by your organization. 2. Healthy performance cultures provide high expectations and high support for employees, which includes leaders being self-aware and open to feedback. This combination secures the "buy-in" needed for employees to effectively care for your business and customers, naturally leading to increased performance. 3. Regular and open communication and feedback build trust. Practices like consistent one-to-ones, team meetings, and timely recognition help employees feel supported and reassure them that they are on the right path to reaching their goals.  The Culture by Design podcast is created by O.C. Tanner, the global leader in software and services that improve workplace culture through meaningful employee recognition.   If you want your organization to become a place where people can’t wait to come to work in the morning, go to octanner.com [https://www.octanner.com/].

Getting leaders to care about employee recognition

This episode, Stephen Shao and Taylor Hilton, Client Strategists at O.C. Tanner, share how your organization can engage leaders [https://www.octanner.com/articles/leaders-guide-to-employee-recognition] in your employee recognition practices—now and in the long term.  Takeaways: 1. Communicate the "why" to help leaders view recognition as a core leadership habit that builds trust rather than just another platform to use.  2. Highlight success by identifying leaders who model these behaviors and celebrating them in high-visibility channels like town halls or newsletters.  3. Embed recognition into the daily flow of work by integrating tools into systems like Outlook and Slack to make the process seamless for busy managers.  The Culture by Design podcast is created by O.C. Tanner, the global leader in software and services that improve workplace culture through meaningful employee recognition.   If you want your organization to become a place where people can’t wait to come to work in the morning, go to octanner.com [https://www.octanner.com/].

Social ties lead to ROI: The state of employee recognition in 2026

This episode, Daniel Patterson and Dr. Cristen Dalessandro from the O.C. Tanner Institute share the top findings from the latest State of Employee Recognition report [https://www.octanner.com/state-of-employee-recognition-report/2026].   Many organizations right now are focused on automation and productivity above all else. But, for employees to feel willing to invest their time, efforts, and ideas in your organization, they need to feel your organization is willing to invest in them too.  When it comes to all the ways your organization can signal to your people that you are committed to their growth and development, recognition is a game changer. Employee recognition, when done well, amplifies interpersonal connections that have a profound impact not just on how employees feel at work, but how they work at work.  Takeaways: 1. Social ties determine ROI. If you want to increase employee performance and see production and innovation accelerate, then you must invest in integrated recognition that builds powerful workplace relationships.  2. Peer-to-peer recognition is a team-building strategy. Recognition from leaders to employees has a big impact on things like performance and engagement, but encouraging peer-to-peer recognition practices can also help increase connection, build trust on teams, and ultimately unite your teams to reach important goals.  3. Elevate your employee recognition program with Recognition Champions. Whether you have a new program that you’re trying to get off the ground or a long-running program that you need to energize, employees that embrace, encourage, and champion recognition are one of your greatest assets when it comes to making recognition a part of your company’s way of life.  The Culture by Design podcast is created by O.C. Tanner, the global leader in software and services that improve workplace culture through meaningful employee recognition.   If you want your organization to become a place where people can’t wait to come to work in the morning, go to octanner.com [https://www.octanner.com/].

Preparing for a company-wide employee recognition event

This episode, we're talking with Becca Schweitzer, Client Strategist at O.C. Tanner, about the top three things you should keep in mind when planning for your next company-wide recognition event like Employee Appreciation Day [https://www.octanner.com/articles/how-to-celebrate-employee-appreciation-day?utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_campaign=].  Becca partners with our clients to plan successful, meaningful recognition events throughout the year. She also has on-the-ground experience working in HR for a healthcare organization as an employee engagement coordinator, planning (and cleaning up after) these important appreciation moments.   Stick around for the end of the episode where we talk about ideas you can implement at your own workplace.  Takeaways:  1. Start your planning with feedback and lessons learned from previous events. What went well? What was difficult for your HR team? What resonated with employees? This will help you craft your event plan: dates, times, communications, gifts, and experiences.   2. Involve leaders early in the planning process to deliver meaningful, inclusive recognition moments. Your leaders know your people best, and they will be key in delivering this recognition experience—especially for offline or remote teammates.   3. Maximize impact beyond the event. Use this time to showcase your recognition tools, teach your people when and how to use them, and encourage behaviors by rewarding employees who use recognition tools the most.  The Culture by Design podcast is created by O.C. Tanner, the global leader in software and services that improve workplace culture through meaningful employee recognition.   If you want your organization to become a place where people can’t wait to come to work in the morning, go to octanner.com [https://www.octanner.com/?utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_campaign=].

What employees want from work in 2026

This episode, we're talking with Christina Chau, Senior Content Manager at O.C. Tanner, about what employees really want from their workplaces in 2026.   We unpack Christina’s process for gathering industry research and insights to determine the top five workplace culture trends [https://www.octanner.com/articles/5-culture-trends-2026] for the coming year, find out what surprised her, and answer some burning questions from HR leaders and practitioners like you.   Stick around for the end of the episode where we’ll talk about the ideas and actions you can take with you and implement at your own workplace.   A research analyst with nearly 20 years’ experience, Christina uncovers employee perspectives and writes about the trends, insights, and best practices that create workplace cultures where people thrive. She uses her background in conducting and publishing primary research to tap into what the data says and why it matters to modern leaders.  Takeaways:  1. Human connection is so important. There is great tech out there that can enrich both connection and appreciation at work, but don’t let it replace genuine, authentic, human moments. Use AI responsibly in your culture initiatives. 2. Employees are asking for a lot from their workplaces now. They want inspiration from their teams, leaders, and employers; they want time to connect and time to recognize each other. Make sure to prioritize and encourage these experiences in 2026. 3. Go read [https://www.octanner.com/articles/5-culture-trends-2026] or watch [https://www.octanner.com/webinars/5-workplace-culture-trends-for-2026] Christina’s 5 Workplace Culture Trends for 2026 content for more insights and actionable takeaways to implement at your organization this year.  The Culture by Design podcast is created by O.C. Tanner, the global leader in software and services that improve workplace culture through meaningful employee recognition.   If you want your organization to become a place where people can’t wait to come to work in the morning, go to octanner.com [https://www.octanner.com/?utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_campaign=&utm_region=INT&utm_content=ep-1-what-employees-want-from-work].