Culture under one roof: How to build belonging in a split retail workforce 

The fragmentation issue 

HQ gets the communication and perks, like leadership comms, invites to strategy days and flexible working options.  

Store and warehouse teams feel left out. They miss announcements, rarely hear from leadership and often only get recognised by their direct manager. 

Misalignment on values and vision. Your mission might be “customer first,” but do your warehouse teams feel that in their day-to-day?   

That kind of disconnect can chip away at morale, consistency and trust. And it can happen pretty fast…  

Why it matters 

Company culture only gets results when it reaches every part of the business, so it shouldn’t stop at head office. 

• It builds trust and cohesion, especially across big, spread-out teams. The Inclusion at Work Index found that teams in inclusive environments are 8.5 times more likely to work well together. 
• It brings values into real situations – in customer service, decision-making and day-to-day comms. According to the guys at Gallup, companies with high employee engagement are up to 21% more profitable.   
• It gives people something to rally around, making work feel more connected and worthwhile. When McKinsey & Company looked into why diversity matters, they found that businesses with inclusive cultures see up to 58% less turnover. 

How to build unity 

1. Consistent, inclusive internal comms  

Make sure everyone (not just office workers) hears the same messages and feels part of the same milestones. Use simple language, include frontline stories and make sure you’re celebrating those store and warehouse wins alongside HQ updates.  

2. Shared digital platforms and recognition tools  

If people can’t access your systems, it’s hard for them to feel part of what’s going on. A central, easy-to-use platform levels the playing field. Recognition, updates, polls and rewards should be accessible on shared devices, mobiles or personal logins. 

3. Celebrate company-wide wins  

Hit a big target? Launched something new? Celebrate it across all locations. Let warehouse teams see the part they played in the same way you’d let store staff hear how their upselling helped. Frame the win around shared values, not just team targets.  

Accessibility supports connection

Some people get a laptop, email and onboarding slideshow. Others get a name badge and a prayer – but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t feel part of the same culture.   

A platform that works on all devices makes it easy for everyone to stay connected, whether they’re on the floor, in the field or at a desk. And with tools like Culture hub – a central place to share updates and celebrate wins – it’s easier to make that happen. 

Because Perkbox runs across mobile, web and shared tablets, it means everyone can access the same experience without needing a desk or an inbox. No one’s left out, and no one has to jump through hoops to get there. 

Shared challenges and recognitions help teams connect  

Recognition has a habit of staying in its lane. Store managers shout out store teams. Warehouse supervisors celebrate warehouse wins. It makes sense, but it also means people don’t see the full picture. When those moments are shared across teams, they stop feeling isolated and start feeling collective. That’s where connection begins and enviable culture starts to spread. 

With recognition feeds, store teams can shout out busy shifts, warehouse supervisors can call out safety milestones, and everyone sees the impact.  

Unified perks and benefits create fairness 

People notice when recognition, wellness and rewards seem to skip the shop floor or the warehouse. But when you offer the same experience across every team, it tells a very different story. One where the whole organisation is included, and no one gets left out of the loop.  

Perkbox helps make that happen by giving everyone access to the same wellbeing, benefits and engagement. Whether it’s a 5am warehouse shift or a product launch in HQ, the support stays the same. 

The power of an all-in-one perks and employee recognition platform

Great cultures don’t build themselves, especially when you’ve got a split workforce. A digital perks and employee recognition platform turns recognition from an afterthought into a daily cultural habit.  

And when it’s paired with purpose-built perks and employee recognition software, you can: 

• Celebrate wins in real time  
• Track participation and impact  
• Build equity and consistency across every location  

It’s the simplest way to turn “company values” (the ones everyone nodded at during onboarding then promptly forgot) into visible behaviours everyone can live.   

A final word 

An employee recognition platform like Perkbox makes it easy to connect your people through the moments that already exist, whether they’re clocking in, logging on or zipping around the warehouse like it’s the forklift Grand Prix.  

Recognition becomes something people feel in the flow of work – not a formal nod, not a forgotten email, but just part of how things are.