LONDON – 6 May, 2026 – New research from culture consultancy, Make It Human, shows that even top-rated workplaces are quietly under strain – with hidden patterns such as unclear ownership, slow decision-making, feelings of unfairness, and rising workloads limiting employee performance and wellbeing – highlighting the urgent need for a more manageable and effective way to proactively shape culture.

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The launch follows new analysis of over 4,000 employee reviews shared on Glassdoor across the UK’s top workplaces, revealing that even highly rated organisations harbour unsustainable behaviours and habits. Not because culture isn’t valued – but because it’s rarely made tangible enough to shape how work happens.

 

 

‘Caring’ cultures mask emotional and operational strain

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Employees frequently described environments where workloads continued to rise without priorities becoming clearer, where decisions slowed because ownership felt blurred, and where people felt treated unfairly and less safe speaking openly. In many cases, highly committed employees compensated by working longer hours, or carrying emotional pressure quietly.

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The research highlights why this matters today. One of the most striking findings is that organisations can appear healthy externally while employees internally experience increasing levels of operational and emotional strain. These patterns often remain hidden because they sit alongside positive experiences such as meaningful work, caring relationships, and pride in the organisation. As a result, leaders can believe culture is healthy while the everyday experience of work is gradually becoming harder to sustain.

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Standout workplaces proactively build strong culture, even under pressure

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An important finding was also made for the very best workplaces versus those lower in the rankings. The top 5 workplaces consistently outperformed the bottom 5 (in the top 20) across several areas. Employees in standout workplaces spoke positively about leaders who created clarity during uncertainty, managers who enabled growth rather than control, and workplaces where people felt psychologically safe enough to contribute honestly and learn openly.

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This demonstrates the advantage gained through focus on shaping the more challenging elements of workplace culture, and ensuring conditions are continuously nurtured to enable people and teams to optimise their collective potential.

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A system to help leaders move culture from fuzzy to fuel

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Sarah McLellan, Chartered Occupational Psychologist, founder and author of Make It Human, shares the missing link: “Most organisations don’t have a clear, shared picture of what strong culture really looks like in action – or how to build it,” she explains. “That’s where the HABIT System comes in.”

 

Responding to this need, Make It Human has launched the HABIT System – a practical, end-to-end approach designed to help leaders turn culture into an everyday driver of sustainable growth.

 

The HABIT System brings focus and structure to something that often feels fuzzy and intangible. It helps leaders to see culture more clearly, use proven models to design the future state, translate this into clear behavioural expectations, and embed effective habits into the rhythm of everyday work.

 

A growing number of organisations are recognising this opportunity and seeking more practical ways to create better work experiences. The Make It Human Club, a global community of over 1,200 leaders, managers, and HR professionals, reflects this shift – bringing together those committed to shaping thriving, productive and resilient workplaces.

 

McLellan concludes: “Culture isn’t just a backdrop to performance, it’s the system that drives it. Changing culture won’t happen through intention alone, leaders need to see it, shape it, and sustain it, every day.”

 

Leaders can get started by accessing the Growth Cultures Insight Report and joining the Make It Human Club, where tools, guidance, and practical support are available to begin turning culture from feeling fuzzy into an engine for sustainable growth.