Building Safer, Stronger Teams Through Engagement and Manager Effectiveness  

Challenges Faced

CORT faced several critical workforce challenges:

1. High turnover, particularly among new hires and operations employees, led to rising recruitment and training costs.
2. Breakdowns in communication and misaligned priorities across departments created inefficiencies and limited cross-functional cohesion.
3. Talent development, especially among employees in the field who may not get as much visibility and access to leaders and training resources, put succession planning and team morale at risk.

These challenges had real consequences missed opportunities, a lack of trust in leadership and declining team dynamics. The company needed a cultural reset centered around listening, transparency, and empowerment.

Opportunities Seized 

CORT saw these challenges as an opportunity to invest in its people and culture — starting with listening. By rolling out new survey programs and launching high-impact development initiatives, the company was able to gain clarity on its employee experience, reestablish organizational alignment, and begin building a new generation of confident, connected leaders.

CORT also made safety a cultural cornerstone — not just a compliance issue — by launching a wide-reaching “One-CORT” safety culture initiative. This became a unifying force across geographically dispersed teams and a key driver of engagement.

Solutions Implemented and Tangible Results Achieved

With Quantum Workplace, CORT implemented a multi-pronged employee listening strategy that included:

• Engagement surveys in 2023 and 2025 to measure progress over time
• New hire, exit, benefits, and training surveys to assess the full employee lifecycle
• Pulse surveys to gather rapid feedback on high-priority topics like safety and communication

Survey results helped shape CORT’s action planning efforts around manager development, communication, and change readiness. Leaders used Quantum’s analytics and reporting tools to track progress, refine strategies, and share results across the business.

To complement the listening strategy, CORT rolled out a comprehensive Leadership Essentials program, enrolling every new manager in a 12-month development journey focused on inclusive leadership, communication, accountability, customer experience, and more. Additional learning opportunities included:

• Predictive Index Team Discovery workshops to improve team alignmentC
• Monthly virtual Leadership Academy sessions reaching 200+ leaders at a time
• COMPASS, a Learning Management System offering on-demand leadership and professional development content
• SPEKIT, a digital enable platform that helps employees access training, answers and guidance exactly when they need it.

Safety training and reporting were also embedded in onboarding, team routines, and recognition programs, with dedicated tools for tracking hazards, launching quarterly Safety Lunch & Learns, and celebrating safe practices through the National Safety Award.

Measurable Impact

The results have been meaningful and measurable:

• Engagement survey participation increased from 40% (2023) to 69% (2025)
• Favorability remained strong at over 70%, even with a larger participation base
• Safety-related engagement items scored 84% favorable in 2025
• Change management favorability increased by 7%, and communication by 6%
• Specific questions tied to leadership and enablement also improved, including:
  • “Senior leadership is prepared to manage a diverse workforce” (+5.2%)
  • “I have the information I need to do my job well” (+4.0%)

While new feedback from frontline operations teams revealed areas for improvement around peer collaboration and trust, CORT is already using these insights to shape new strategies for team-building and alignment.

A Culture That Prioritizes Listening and Action  

CORT’s progress has been driven by one core truth: listening is only powerful when paired with action. From implementing an EQ training program to reworking how safety shows up in daily routines, the company is walking the talk.

As the VP of HR noted, “The survey tool provides us with direct insights into how employees feel about their work, leadership, and overall culture. This allows us to take meaningful action — reducing turnover, increasing productivity, and fostering a culture where employees feel valued and heard.”