How a Foundation of Belonging in the Workplace Supports Retention

Having a sense of belonging includes feeling accepted for who you are, being appreciated for your contributions, and feeling connected to others and your purpose. Humans are innately drawn to belonging, and employee engagement and satisfaction are dependent on it.

Vityl’s in-house research concluded that employees who feel like they belong to a company are 8.7 times more likely to remain in their position for the next year and 5.5 times more likely to stay with a company for their entire career.

A sense of workplace belonging gives people a sense of security. People with a strong sense of belonging don’t feel an overwhelming sense of pressure or a fear of failure, so they’re more likely to take risks. A sense of belonging fuels creativity and inspires collaboration. 

Furthermore, people with a strong sense of belonging are more likely to feel passionate about growing and developing within the organization. People are more excited about taking on new, exciting opportunities on their teams when they are free to perform at their best without fear.

What does fostering belonging in the workplace look like?

What actions can a team take to cultivate this sense of belonging? When it comes to your team’s needs, how do you determine what’s best? It is impossible to provide a one-size-fits-all solution.

Instead, it is important to fully understand what comprises your organizational and team culture before you can know what needs to be changed. Surveys are a great tool to ensure employees’ voices are heard and that an organization or team can create data-informed cultural initiatives that are aligned with employee needs.

To solve cultural challenges, you also need to know what resources you have at your disposal. Even the most dedicated employees who are eager to transform their organization’s culture will be met with challenges if they are not properly equipped. Exercises geared toward team-building are worthwhile, but shouldn’t be your only avenue for fostering belonging and collaboration among your teams. Building a community at work can be achieved in a variety of ways, including knowledge sharing between colleagues, receiving support from a manager or coworker, and feeling aligned to the goals and mission of your organization.

Where do you start?

At Vityl, we’ve created a platform built to take teams to the top. Through data-driven nudges that feature light actions and resources, employees can explore new behaviors to enact positive change on their teams and organizations. Keep an eye on your My Belonging page for relevant nudges and resources to help you get started and foster a culture of belonging for yourself and others.