Introduction

You may have heard that ‘culture eats strategy for breakfast’, but what does it do to wellbeing? It eats it for lunch, dinner and every snack. During my working life, I’ve witnessed first-hand the profound impact that workplace culture can have on every part of a library – from the wellbeing of its employees to its overall effectiveness. Within an organisation, culture is not an abstract concept but a living, breathing entity that shapes our daily experiences and long-term outcomes. It can change and evolve and when leaders aren't mindful of this, it can often change for the worse, but toxic cultures are the focus of a subsequent chapter. This chapter explores the complex interplay between workplace culture and the twin virtues of kindness and wellbeing. I aim to show you the unique challenges and opportunities librarians and staff encounter when fostering a work culture rich in kindness and conducive to wellbeing.

Can culture really affect wellbeing?

In 2022, Huhtala et al. reported on a longitudinal study of the impact of ethical organisational culture on the wellbeing of leaders. In this study, they used the Conservation of Resources (COR) model (explored in detail in Chapter 2) to examine the impact of an ethical culture on the wellbeing of their leaders. Leaders in organisations with a strong ethical culture reported better wellbeing. Specifically, they experienced lower levels of ethical dilemmas, stress and burnout and higher levels of work engagement. Over time, these positive factors slightly improved. The improvements were not as substantial as the negative impacts seen in environments with weak ethical cultures.