We Belong Together: New Study Examines How Fostering a Sense of Belonging is Good Business

Studies show that a sense of belonging among employees improve employee engagement, satisfaction and overall organizational success.  Specifically, studies have demonstrated that organizations that create a positive work atmosphere tend to outperform their competitors by having more productive, creative and committed employees.  Further, enhanced productivity and efficiency leads to reduced turnover rates within the company or firm.

A recent article from the Journal of Management Research explores strategies for employee retention and the theoretical background to support such strategies.  A link to the full article can be found below.

As any service-driven business can attest, employees are the assets that can make or break a company.  Therefore, it is in the employers’ best interest to invest in their employees by providing them with benefits and initiatives.

Key components of maximum productivity are a sense of belonging and feeling valued and respected.  Humans have a fundamental need to belong (Baumeister and Leary, 1995).  According to the social identity theory, employee’s sense of belonging is shaped by how strongly they identify with the organization and its culture (Tajfel & Turner, 1979).  According to the organizational support theory, employees develop a sense of belonging based on their perception of how much the organization values their contributions and cares about their well-being (Eisenberger, 1986).

A powerful tool for fostering a sense of belonging, value and respect are workplace well-being initiatives. In 2019, researchers studied 360 health professionals about burnout. According to the results of that study: unsurprisingly, the higher the work stress level, the greater the employee burnout; yet, significantly, the more and the better the well-being programs in place, the higher the employee motivation.

Accordingly, offering mental health or well-being benefits has effects greater than those provided to the individual taking advantage of the benefit.  The entire organization can benefit from the increased productivity, motivation and commitment derived from employees who feel seen, valued and respected.  The decreased turnover that accompanies an environment of belonging will also positively impact a company’s bottom line.