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How DeskAlerts Improves Communication and Safety in Manufacturing
In today’s competitive and fast-paced manufacturing sector, efficient communication is essential for ensuring smooth operations, meeting production...
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Caroline Duncan : Jun 14, 2024 2:07:12 PM
Human beings like to seek connection and acceptance as part of the human condition. This extends to every aspect of life, including the workplace.
There are many reasons why people may not feel as though they fit in or are accepted at work - including cultural differences, lack of diversity and inclusion initiatives or even poor management practices.
When people feel a sense of belonging at work, it boosts morale, enhances engagement and fosters a positive, inclusive environment.
Table of contents
What is Belonging in the Workplace?
Why is a Sense of Belonging at Work Important?
Scientific Research on the Value of Belonging to the Workplace
The Impact of Uncertainty About Belonging in the Workplace
Examples of Belonging in the Workplace
How to Create a Sense of Belonging in the Workplace
How DeskAlerts Helps Improve the Sense of Belonging in the Workplace
Belonging in the workplace is when employees feel a sense of acceptance, inclusion and support within their professional environment, When employees feel a sense of belonging in the workplace they often feel valued for their unique contributions to the company, and feel as though they are an integral part of their team. This is achieved regardless of the employee’s background, culture, perspectives or personal identity.
Fostering a sense of belonging for employees is achieved by adopting inclusive practices in the workplace like equitable growth opportunities, actively encouraging diverse voices and ensuring that safe spaces are created for open dialogue. In order to achieve this, company leadership needs to be committed to diversity and inclusion initiatives, promoting respect and understanding and actively listening so that employees feel heard.
Factors that contribute to belonging in the workplace include:
Creating a sense of belonging in the workplace for employees is important in order to build a positive, productive and thriving workplace environment. Not only do individuals benefit from having a sense of belonging, but the overall organizational performance is positively affected.
Key reasons to foster a sense of belonging in the workplace include:
WORKPLACE CULTURE EMPLOYEES WANT
The value of belonging in the workplace can be backed up by science - starting with the famous Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. This is a psychological theory proposed by Abraham Maslow in 1943 that outlines a five-tier model of human needs, often depicted as a pyramid.
The Hierarchy of Needs includes: physiological (basic survival), safety (security and stability), love and belonging (social connections), esteem (recognition and respect), and self-actualization (personal growth).
As human beings, the need to belong extends to every aspect of life - including the workplace. At work, this includes being able to form strong interpersonal relationships, work in teams and be embraced by a supportive culture. Employees therefore need to feel that they are accepted and are a part of the team in order to be truly engaged and satisfied,
A 2021 study from Qualtrics found that there were clear links between a sense of belonging in the workplace and employee wellbeing. They found that 78% of people who feel they belong in their organizations rated their sense of wellbeing favorably, while just 28% of those who do not feel as though they belong rated their wellbeing favorably.
It isn’t just employees who benefit from the sense of belonging: research has found that companies benefit too.
One study by behavioral scientists from BetterUp found that when workers feel as though they belong, companies can have a substantial boost to their bottom-line. They found high belonging was linked to a 56% increase in job performance, a 75% reduction in sick days and a 50% drop in employee turnover. They estimate that for a company with 10,000 employees, this would result in annual savings of around $52 million.
They also found benefits for the employees who received 18 times more promotions and double the raises of employees who did not feel a sense of belonging to their companies.
The impact of uncertainty about belonging in the workplace can be profound and affects both employees and companies in significant ways.
Impacts for employees:
20 EMPLOYEE WELLBEING INITIATIVES TO PUT INTO ACTION IN 2024
30 EMPLOYEE SATISFACTION SURVEY QUESTIONS TO ASK
Impacts for the company:
Here are several examples of belonging in the workplace which highlight the outcomes for both the company and the employee:
A tech company implements a comprehensive diversity and inclusion program that includes regular training sessions on cultural competence, employee resource groups for different demographics and company-wide celebrations and acknowledgments of various cultural holidays.
Consequence for the company: By building an inclusive culture, the company benefits from higher levels of innovation and creativity among employees. It can leverage the diverse perspectives within the team to deliver unique solutions to complex problems, giving the company a competitive edge in its field. The company is also likely to see improved employee retention rates and lower costs associated with recruitment and turnover.
A marketing firm has begun using open communication channels that allow its employees at all levels to share ideas and feedback directly with those in management. They hold regular town hall meetings, deploy surveys and provide anonymous suggestion boxes so that everyone’s voice can be heard..
Consequence for the company: This approach fosters a culture of trust and transparency within the company, and leads to higher levels of engagement among employees. The company benefits from innovative ideas that improve processes and boost client satisfaction. The open communication channels have also assisted to both identify and address potential issues early so that larger problems can be prevented down the track.
Consequence for the employee: The company’s employees feel both valued and empowered because they know that their opinions matter. With this sense of belonging, their commitment to the company and their roles is enhanced and they are more likely to take initiative and make proactive contributions to the workplace
A retail chain introduces a recognition and reward program aimed at acknowledging employee achievements and contributions. Employees are regularly recognized in their team meetings, in company-wide newsletters and through an employee of the month program.
Consequence for the company: The recognition program leads to an increase in employee engagement and morale, with staff more motivated to perform at their best. This leads to improved customer service and higher sales.
Consequence for the employee: The recognition program helps employees to feel appreciated and valued for all their hard work and dedication, fostering a sense of belonging and loyalty to the company. It encourages them to continually strive towards excellence in the knowledge that their efforts will be recognized.
A financial services company has failed to introduce any diversity and inclusion initiatives. The workforce has no employee resource groups or support systems for minority employees, and overall is quite homogenous. This lack of diversity contributes to a company culture where certain groups feel undervalued and excluded.
Consequence for the company: Without effective diversity and inclusion initiatives in place, the company faces high turnover rates among its minority employees who don’t feel a sense of belonging. The constant turnover leads to increases in recruitment and training costs, while the lack of diverse perspectives hinders innovation.
Consequence for the employee: Minority employees within the company feel unsupported and isolated with decreased job satisfaction and engagement as a result. These staff members are less likely to participate in team activities or share their ideas. Over time they may experience increased stress and lower productivity, ultimately making the decisio to leave the company for one that provides a more inclusive environment.
When it comes to creating a sense of belonging in the workplace, you need to get the basics right, according to Thivia Mogan, XM Scientist at Qualtrics.
“Treating employees with respect, taking action on their feedback and recognising their contributions are ways to show employees that they matter. We cannot expect employees to be well, let alone thrive, in a toxic workplace,” she said.
Steps to help create a more inclusive workplace that helps employees feel a sense of belonging include:
Ensure you’re structuring your teams in ways that nurture better connections between co-workers so that employees can bond and become allies for one another.
This includes making sure all your tools and resources are accessible to everyone and information is shared freely and transparently.
Regularly acknowledge and celebrate the contributions of both individuals and teams, and recognize their achievements. This helps them to feel appreciated for the work they do to ensure the company’s success.
Corporate social responsibility initiatives are a company’s efforts to create a positive impact on the world. This can play a major role in fostering a sense of belonging, as employees who resonate with the company’s CSR aims will feel they are a good “fit” with the company.
Having effective internal communication plans in place will help you to ensure that employees receive the information they need to do their jobs well, and to keep them connected to what is happening across the company. It’s important that they understand what is happening and how they fit into the bigger picture of delivering the company’s goals.
INTERNAL COMMUNICATION SYSTEM SOFTWARE
Having good onboarding processes in place will help your new hires feel like they belong from the very start. Your onboarding should include a thorough introduction to the company, their team and all the things that make you a unique employer.
IT ONBOARDING CHECKLIST FOR NEW HIRES
Support comes in many different forms from ongoing training and development to mentorship programs through to employee assistance programs. By providing these types of support initiatives to your staff, they will understand you are investing in them and want to see the succeed.
Establish forums and support groups where employees can feel safe to share and discuss concerns and experiences without fear of judgment. These can be both social groups as well as professional forums.
One of the most effective communication tools you can use to create a culture of belonging is storytelling. By encouraging people to share their personal stories and talk about who they are, you provide an important way for others to hear lost and marginalized voices.
It is important to act quickly to address any incidents of discrimination or exclusion when they arise and are brought to management’s attention. A failure to act quickly will lead to resentments festering and affected employees losing trust and faith in the company. By acting quickly, the company demonstrates a commitment to maintaining a safe and respectful workplace for all employees.
By regularly seeking and acting on employee feedback you can demonstrate to your staff that their opinions matter and can actively contribute to driving positive change within the company.
BEST EMPLOYEE FEEDBACK TOOLS TO USE IN 2024
An effective way to create a sense of belonging in the workplace for employees is by using DeskAlerts - a comprehensive internal communication software system. DeskAlerts is designed to ensure that important information reaches every employee quickly and effectively, no matter where they are located or what they are doing.
DeskAlerts deploys notifications to desktops, laptops, phones and tablets in a variety of ways including through pop-up notifications, scrolling tickers, screensavers, wallpapers and digital signage. It also has features such as surveys, polls and quizzes and mobile notifications so that you can find innovative ways to cut through digital noise and ensure your employees are informed.
Some of the ways you can use DeskAlerts to create a sense of belonging in the workplace include:
25 THANK YOU MESSAGE SAMPLES FOR EMPLOYEES
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Creating a culture where employees feel included and valued is important if you want your company to attract and retain top talent and to be productive at the same time. Remember, your employees are your biggest asset so you need to look after them. If you’re looking to improve your company culture and build a workplace that promotes employee inclusion, consider whether or not you have the right tools for the job. Get in touch with our experts today for a free demonstration of DeskAlerts and find out how it can assist you to promote inclusion and belonging in your company.
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