Entrepreneurship And Employee Culture At Startups: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

If you are a startup leader or employed at one, it’s important to know what the culture is. This guide will discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly. A lot of people are working hard to meet the business goals so the startup grows and becomes more successful.

At times, this can lead to people working long hours and inadvertently neglecting their self-care routines. However, it shouldn’t be like this. We’ll talk about some of the remedies you can use to reverse any of the bad and the ugly of start-up culture.

Let’s take a look now at the following down below.

Drug use may be rampant

For some entrepreneurs and startup employees, they may rely on certain types of drugs. They may rely on stimulants such as meth or even cocaine to keep them awake. They will forgo sleep and stay up all night getting work done.

However, there are physical and mental consequences to doing these kinds of drugs. If you are dealing with addiction, a Tennessee drug rehab facility will be able to get you the treatment you need.

Another reason why someone may use drugs may be due to stress. They may rely on it for the purpose of self-medication. Once again, this should never be acceptable.

There are several alternatives that startup leaders and employees can use to beat stress and live a healthy lifestyle. Businesses should educate employees on the dangers of drug use – on the job or otherwise.

Work/life balance can be iffy

Yes, business goals need to be met. However, no one should have to push themselves to the limit. No one should have to stretch themselves too thin for the purpose of accomplishing something.

If you are a startup leader, it’s important to take care of your employees. Not to mention, taking care of yourself is key as well. Everyone on your team should work between certain hours.

At the end of the day, go home and recharge. Spend time with family. Indulge in your favorite hobbies.

The work/life balance may be imbalanced in startup culture. This doesn’t have to be a thing. Talk to your employees about how to achieve the best work/life balance possible.

What kind of steps does your company need to take in order to make it possible? When it comes to your business, it is possible for everyone on your team to have positive balance in their lives.

Mental health is an issue that should be addressed

With mental health being a topic that is widely discussed these days, it’s important to talk about it with your team. You can even bring in mental health professionals to educate them on mental health issues and how it can affect their work performance.

As a startup leader, you can also provide your employees with mental health resources. In the event if they need such resources, you can refer them to someone who can help. Mental health disorders will need to be treated accordingly.

Encourage someone who may experience signs or symptoms to get an evaluation done. Not only will it help get them on a treatment plan, it can avert certain disasters. For example, someone with a mental health disorder will have a higher chance of getting addicted to substances.

Now, they are faced with two problems: a mental health issue and an addiction problem. Dual diagnosis is common in today’s society. The good news is that both can be treated by professionals.

An employee may need treatment if such a situation were to arise. Again, be sure to refer them to the right resources. Assure them that once their treatment is complete, they can still remain on the team.

Drinking at work? Is it appropriate?

At startups, there are some that can allow employees to drink on the job. This is something that shouldn’t be done. The reason for this is that alcohol can impair someone’s cognitive abilities.

When this happens, this will make it difficult to focus on their work. They may also engage in risky behaviors as well. This can be enough to create a toxic work culture.

This can also allow people to abuse alcohol freely. Some may even depend on alcohol to get them through the day. Allowing people to drink on the job sets a dangerous precedent.

On top of that, it may lead to people not being comfortable working in such an environment. As a startup leader, you want to refrain from using alcohol on the job. You should also implement a rule that drinking on the job is prohibited.

Remind them that if they are planning on drinking, they should do so when they are off the clock. An exception can be made if a get-together is held at the office. This is different because you and your employees are not on the clock.

Don’t let alcohol ruin your startup. Don’t allow you and your team to fall behind on business goals that need to be met. It’s also a good idea to put your brain to good use.

Make sure everyone is clear-minded, sober, and focused on the tasks at hand. Getting together as a work group after hours is one thing. But drinking at the office is never a good idea.

It’s a workplace, not a place to party. Remember this going forward.

Final Thoughts

In today’s entrepreneurship and startup culture, it can be different from a traditional work environment. Some rules and practices may differ from one another.

As a startup leader, you have a responsibility to preserve and protect the well-being of your employees. Make sure that they are in the best mood so they are more productive.

Remind them that drug and alcohol use can hinder performance. Remind them that addiction can lead to problems at work. If you or your employees are struggling with issues such as substance abuse or mental health disorders, know that help is not far away.