Culture is often overlooked in light industrial settings. Yet, it is just as important in office environments, playing a big role in team strength, retention, and efficiency. So, even though it’s often neglected, a healthy culture is necessary for your company’s bottom line.

At Ōnin, we know that cultural fit isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s essential for building a successful workforce. Our approach ensures that every new hire not only has the right skills but also aligns with your company’s culture.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how we enhance company culture through strategic hiring and integration practices.

Understanding Cultural Fit

What is Cultural Fit?

Cultural fit refers to how well an employee’s values, behaviors, and approach to work align with those of the organization. It’s not just about finding someone with the right skills; it’s about ensuring that new hires can thrive within the company’s environment and contribute positively to its culture.

Why Cultural Fit Matters

When employees align with their company’s culture, they are more engaged, productive, and likely to stay long-term. A Zippia study found that:

• • 56% of employees rank good workplace culture as more important than salary
  • Happy employees are 20% more productive than unhappy employees
  • 47% of job seekers cite dissatisfactory company culture as the driving reason to look for a new job

However, achieving this alignment often requires more than just hiring those who naturally fit—it demands a strategic approach to onboarding and cultural coaching.

The Reality of Building Cultural Fit

Many staffing companies claim to hire for cultural fit, but here’s a truth that often goes unspoken: true cultural integration doesn’t happen overnight.

While some employees may naturally align with a company’s culture, the reality is that most contingent workers will need thoughtful guidance and support to fully integrate. The key lies in identifying those who have the potential to fit and then choosing to invest in their development. That’s our strategy at Ōnin.

We have found that actively nurturing our Teammates helps them integrate.

Actively coaching employees to understand, adapt to, and embrace your organizational culture is what transforms them from simply being good workers to being fully engaged team members. This strategic investment in cultural alignment pays dividends, leading to higher engagement, improved productivity, and long-term retention.

Hiring for Cultural Fit

Collaboration with Clients

Collaborating with you is essential to ensuring a strong cultural fit for the Teammates we place within your organization. At Ōnin, we work closely with you to identify the specific soft skills that are crucial for success in your unique environment, as well as the hard rules and cultural expectations that define your workplace.

To gain a deeper understanding, our recruiters often conduct a walk-through of your facility, allowing us to see the job from all angles and truly grasp the day-to-day realities your Teammates will face.

We also focus on understanding how your company’s job and mission can positively impact a Teammate’s life and what kind of support they will receive to thrive in their role. This collaboration helps us create a comprehensive cultural profile that guides our candidate selection process, ensuring that the Teammates we recommend are not only technically capable but also aligned with your company’s culture and prepared to contribute positively to your goals.

Interviews

Unlike some staffing firms that may outsource the interview process or treat it as a mere formality, at Ōnin, we view the interview as a critical opportunity to build a meaningful relationship with our contingent workers—whom we proudly call Teammates. Our interviews are conducted personally by local recruiters who have undergone specialized training through Ōnin’s exclusive recruiting program. This training empowers our recruiters to conduct in-depth interviews that go far beyond surface-level qualifications.

Our recruiters focus on understanding each candidate’s work needs, personal aspirations, and how their personality aligns with the potential workplace. By taking this comprehensive approach, we ensure that we’re not just filling positions but intelligently matching candidates to roles where they can truly thrive. This commitment to understanding and placing our Teammates in the right roles is what sets Ōnin apart in the staffing industry.

Onboarding for Cultural Integration with Nurture the New Hire

Hiring for cultural fit is only part of the equation when it comes to building a cohesive and productive workforce. The true challenge—and often the most overlooked aspect—is ensuring that new hires can successfully integrate into the culture once they start the job. This requires more than just matching values on paper; it demands a structured program that guides new employees through the process of fitting in, both culturally and in terms of job performance.

Unfortunately, many staffing companies stop their involvement at the point of hire, leaving workers to navigate the complexities of a new environment on their own. For contingent workers, this lack of ongoing support can be particularly detrimental. They rely heavily on their staffing team to help them not just land a job, but also to thrive in it.

That’s where Ōnin’s comprehensive onboarding program, Nurture the New Hire, makes a critical difference. At Ōnin, we believe that our responsibility extends far beyond the initial hire. We’re committed to standing behind our Teammates, offering the continuous guidance and support they need to fully integrate and succeed in their new roles.

The Nurture the New Hire program is specifically designed to ensure that new hires are not just welcomed into your workforce but are also equipped with the tools and ongoing support necessary to truly fit into your company culture. This comprehensive approach enhances their job performance and strengthens overall workplace cohesion, creating a more engaged and aligned workforce.

Customized Training

Ōnin’s Nurture the New Hire onboarding program offers custom-designed training that not only equips new hires with the essential hard skills and technical expertise for their roles but also fully immerses them in your company’s culture and expectations. This holistic approach ensures that employees are fully equipped to succeed in their roles and integrate seamlessly into your organization’s culture.

Onboarding Materials

Ōnin can develop customized onboarding materials that bridge the gap between job expectations and each employee’s personal aspirations, presenting the role within a win-win framework. Rather than simply saying, “Here’s a job, do it,” our materials help Teammates grasp the deeper value of their role. They highlight how meeting your expectations can drive their personal and professional growth. This approach instills a sense of purpose and engagement from day one, laying the foundation for a motivated, aligned, and successful workforce.

Ongoing Engagement and Support

At Ōnin, we emphasize the importance of continuous support, especially during the first 90 days. We have a scheduled content program designed to be motivational, supportive, and informational while also prompting Teammates to voice any questions or concerns. This structured communication occurs at key moments in their job journey to ensure that the right message is delivered at the right time. These regular check-ins go beyond mere routine; they are crucial opportunities for the Ōnin team to address concerns, provide additional support, and celebrate early successes, fostering a strong feedback loop and aiding in their cultural adaptation.

Feedback Loops

We recognize the importance of feedback in the cultural integration process. We establish feedback loops where new hires can share their experiences, perceptions, and suggestions regarding the company culture. This feedback is invaluable for continuous improvement, allowing you to make necessary adjustments and ensure that your culture remains inclusive, engaging, and aligned with your organizational goals.

Through these comprehensive strategies, Ōnin helps you build a workforce that is not only culturally aligned but also fully engaged and committed to the long-term success of your organization.

Building Special Cultural Moments for Contingent Workers

At Ōnin, we understand the importance of making every employee, including contingent workers, feel connected to your company’s culture. We can orchestrate programs that create special cultural moments for your contingent workforce, such as organizing pizza parties, celebrating milestones, or recognizing exceptional work with a Teammate of the Month prize. These simple gestures foster a sense of belonging, boost morale, and reinforce the values you want to cultivate.

Case Study: Mercedes-Benz Reduces Turnover Through Cultural Impact

At Mercedes-Benz U.S. International (MBUSI), the integration of contingent workers into the facility faced significant challenges, particularly with high turnover rates. Exit interviews conducted by Ōnin revealed that many contingent workers felt disconnected from the core team and disrespected by their direct supervisors, contributing to their decision to leave.

In response, Ōnin developed a tailored program designed to improve communication and strengthen the relationship between contingent workers (Ōnin Teammates) and the client’s supervisors. This program included custom content focused on soft skills, aimed at helping supervisors understand their role as coaches and fostering positive, constructive interactions with Teammates. The program emphasized regular interactions, feedback loops, and collaborative efforts to ensure better integration of Teammates into the workplace culture.

The implementation of this program led to significant improvements. Teammates reported higher job satisfaction and a stronger sense of belonging within the company’s team. Recognizing the program’s success, the MBUSI expanded the program’s principles to their internal employees, resulting in increased workplace productivity and overall employee satisfaction.

This case highlights how Ōnin’s approach to cultural integration can effectively align a contingent workforce with a company’s culture, delivering tangible benefits in employee engagement and organizational performance.

How Do You Start?

A strong cultural fit is crucial for driving performance, enhancing retention, and creating a workplace where employees thrive.

Looking to add Cultural Fit into your own interview process? We’ve put together a guide on exactly how you can create effective cultural fit interview questions to ensure your new hire will be a good fit for your team. Click below to check out the guide.