How to create a great modern workplace culture in Czechia

What makes people happy to go to work? Amid a tight Czech labor market and tough competition for skilled workers, this question is on the mind of employers across every sector in Czechia.

In many cases, employees are looking for work that’s also, somehow, more than just work. Offices should provide a sense of community and belonging, acting as social hubs full of like-minded people. Especially in the kinds of international professional service centers that are major employers in Czech cities such as Prague and Brno, this social aspect of workplace culture is an increasingly important consideration for jobseekers.

Every company tackles this topic differently, and a particularly strong example is provided by Johnson&Johnson, a global healthcare company with a EMEA Service Center located in Prague. Providing employee groups with an emphasis on diversity and inclusion, a rich array of engaging non-work activities, and a focus on equitable career development, the company goes about making sure that employees come to work with a smile.

Shared service centers underpin the continent-wide activities of major pharma industry players such as Johnson & Johnson. With almost 900 employees, the company’s Global Service Center is responsible for activities across the Innovative Medicine and Medical Technology sectors.

Providing support across the EMEA region, Johnson&Johnson Czech center is staffed by employees working within finance, human resources, and procurement functions. The company is continuously seeking out new talented minds to join the team, and with English as its office language, the center is brimming with expats forging promising careers in Czechia.

As one of the world’s largest healthcare companies, Johnson&Johnson is a place marked out by a high level of diversity, employing people of all backgrounds and talents. At the same time, 45 percent of employees in its Prague center are Czech, grounding its international outlook with a sense of local familiarity.

Meanwhile, in such a large center, creating an environment in which people feel part of a close-knit community is vital to ensuring that employees feel that their voice is heard, while opening up opportunities above and beyond work.

Employee groups help people find connections within the community. Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) celebrate diversity while bringing people together in the pursuit of shared interests, hobbies and concerns at a company-wide level. Special Interest Groups (SIGs) are established for those with shared interests or passions at the local level, meaning the Czech center has SIGs that are uniquely fitted to the interests of its people.

Employee groups cover everything from activities for parents to outdoor sports and community initiatives. Johnson&Johnson supports initiatives such as Prague Pride, while running its own Open&Out initiative focused on creating safe, inclusive workspaces for the LGBT+ community. The Open&Out team regularly joins the Prague Pride Forum, while celebrating International Women’s Day and Men’s Day as part of its mission to help foster gender equality.

Another group, Limitless, focuses on helping people with diverse abilities succeed in the workplace. As part of the Johnson&Johnson Alliance for Diverse Abilities, Limitless focuses on celebrating the strengths of its members, breaking down barriers, and building an inclusive environment in which those with disabilities can thrive, providing resources tailored to the unique needs of each individual.

The Generation NOW group, meanwhile, drives a Language Academy offering courses in Czech, Spanish, Hungarian, and other languages to employees. All of these groups help people meet like-minded colleagues, offering an excellent way for expats to forge friendships, while contributing to a positive office environment. 

Another key ingredient in any happy workplace environment is career progression; employees are asked  to drive their own  trajectory of development and receive support from the organization to make it a reality.

At Johnson&Johnson, an online platform for learning and self-development has received considerable investment, enabling employees to arm themselves with the skills they need to advance their career. At the same time, people are encouraged to try a new role within the company in order to gain new experiences and abilities.

Inherent in efforts to open up career opportunities is the company’s ongoing effort to boost gender equality in senior roles, including a requirement that qualified female candidates are considered for management positions. The pharma industry is popular among women, and the company aims to boost their representation in leadership through a Women’s Leadership & Inclusion employee group.

Turning a team of 900 people into a thriving and friendly community is no simple task. The Johnson&Johnson Global Service center is, therefore, a compelling example of what businesses can do to make their workplaces great. Creating attractive working conditions and a positive experience that goes beyond the everyday demands of the job are among the biggest steps that employers can take when looking to succeed in the modern age.