Real vs. Fake Company Culture

A lot of companies talk about culture. It shows up in their values page, in glossy recruiting videos, and in carefully crafted mission statements. But there’s a big difference between the culture a company promotes and the culture its people actually experience.

Fake culture is easy to spot once you’re inside. It’s when “we’re a family” really means “we expect you to sacrifice your life for work.” It’s when leadership talks about transparency but employees feel left in the dark. It’s when recognition is promised but rarely delivered. Fake culture relies on words, not actions.

Real culture doesn’t need a press release. It lives in the way people treat each other on a stressful day. It shows up when a manager advocates for their team instead of throwing them under the bus. It’s in the everyday trust, respect, and accountability that build over time. Real culture is felt more than it is written down.

The test is simple: if you removed the posters, the slogans, and the company swag, what would be left? If the answer is mutual trust and shared purpose, you have a real culture. If the answer is silence or resentment, all you had was a façade.

In the long run, people don’t stay for perks or polished words. They stay because the culture is lived, not advertised.