Small Business News

Chances are, if you follow business news at all (and we assume you do if you’re reading this platform!) you will have heard a lot about Brewdog in the last couple of weeks. 

Without rehashing the whole situation, here’s an executive summary: dozens of former employees signed an open letter accusing the craft beer firm and its co-founder James Watt of fostering a “culture of fear.” Ex-staff members claim they were bullied, treated like objects, and that the company’s culture was “toxic.” You can read more in this excellent piece by Kalyeena Makortoff and Rob Davies for The Guardian.  But following this sage got me thinking: what is this “culture” thing we hear so much about, why does it matter, and how does it pertain to small business owners? 

It’s business and self employed 1:01. You’ve said it about them; they’ve said it about you. Well, maybe we just said it to ourselves, murmuring slightly with an un-noticed eye roll, or have at least thought, “Just get to the damn point already!”