I know a lot of companies who pride themselves on creating a “family” atmosphere in their workplace. A family-oriented corporate culture can mean a lot of things, such as a collective group of people who share something in common … who feel a special sense of belonging … who take pride in their company’s heritage …
So I was surprised recently when talking with the owner of a family-owned business who was adamantly opposed to having a family-oriented company culture. This type of culture idealizes the concept of family, he explained, while the reality is not all families are fully functional; e.g., sibling rivalry, overly demanding parents, recalcitrant children, etc. Instead, he prefers to describe his company as a “community of co-workers and collaborators.”
The reality is families, as well as corporate entities, can be dysfunctional. It’s all relative.