How COVID-19 has changed your Company Culture

Anthony Demarco • November 16, 2020

In April and August 2020, people2people surveyed the labour market to understand various businesses’ attitudes about the market.

We spoke to 600 businesses and 750 employees across a number of different industries. One big talking point was how COVID-19 has changed the culture of different businesses. With over 92% of business moving to a work from home structure in March 2020, it was a concern that a collaborative culture and working environment would be lost, without face to face interactions.

 It may be a surprise that only 28% of our respondents reported a negative effect on company culture due to the pandemic, with the remaining reporting no change (37%) or even a positive impact (34%).

Certainly for businesses who have reported a positive impact, a common theme was a more collaborative environment between teams and/or different office locations becoming more prevalent. Whilst those businesses which reported a negative impact, displayed unclear, non -transparent communication and lack of trust to remote working employees.

It is clear that the way businesses operate will never be the same again and we are all living in the ‘new normal’ at the time of writing. Personally, I believe moving forward, we will see more flexibility, remote working and a targeted focus on mental health and wellbeing from employers. With these changes to our working lives, we are already seeing an investment in strong IT support systems and implementing changes to create agile working policies.

 If you would like to receive your free copy of the 2020 p2p post, feel free to contact me on 02 8270 9715 or anthony.demarco@people2people.com.au . Don’t miss out on this comprehensive salary and market report, which will give you the opportunity to benchmark your business to others across Australia and New Zealand.

Find the job you love I Find the right talent
Get in touch with people2people

Australia   I   United Kingdom

In business since 2002 in Australia, NZ, and the United Kingdom, people2people is an award-winning recruitment agency with people at our heart. With over 12 offices, we specialise in accounting and finance, business support, education, executive, government, HR, legal, marketing and digital, property, sales, supply chain, and technology sectors. As the proud recipients of the 2024 Outstanding Large Agency and Excellence in Candidate Care Awards, we are dedicated to helping businesses achieve success through a people-first approach.



Share insights

Recent articles

By Leanne Lazarus October 26, 2025
Discover how leadership development is evolving in 2025. Learn what organisations can do to build interdependent, future-ready leaders who drive performance, collaboration, and culture.
By Peta Seaman October 19, 2025
Australia’s job vacancies fell by 2.7% in August 2025, signalling a shift toward more balanced hiring conditions. people2people’s Peta Seaman explores what this means for employers and job seekers across the country.
By Peta Seaman October 12, 2025
Discover how fear of failure is shaping Australian workplaces in 2025 — and learn practical ways employees and employers can overcome it to build confidence, creativity, and long-term success.
By Ben Wheeler October 5, 2025
Australia’s unemployment rate remains steady at 4.2%, but falling employment and reduced participation hint at a softening job market heading into 2026.
By Ben Wheeler September 29, 2025
Promoting mental health at work is essential for productivity and employee wellbeing. Learn how open conversations, leadership support, and simple actions can create psychologically safe workplaces.

Latest Media Features


Get in touch

Find out more by contacting one of our specialisat recruitment consultants across Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.

Contact us