Employees who feel a strong sense of belonging are more productive at work

A new study conducted by the Achievers Workforce Institute (AWI) found that a sense of belonging plays an essential role in employee productivity and wellness. Employees who feel a strong sense of belonging are seven times more likely to say they are productive at work. 

Despite this, “the number of employees with a strong sense of belonging is roughly a quarter (26%) of the workforce,” Hannah Yardley, Chief People and Culture Officer at Achievers said. 

According to the study, the benefits that lead to the strongest sense of belonging in the workplace include unlimited vacation, access to a digital pharmacy, tools that connect employees to their coworkers, childcare support and always-on listening tools, such as an AI chat bot. “When individuals feel they belong, they are more engaged, motivated and willing to collaborate effectively within teams, ” Yardley said. 

The study found that employees who have unlimited vacation time were 43% more likely to feel a sense of belonging at work. They also reported higher levels of engagement, job commitment and productivity. 

The best way to increase employees’ sense of belonging in the workplace is to avoid a one-size-fits-all approach to benefits, the study found. “We’re increasingly seeing employees demand and expect a personalized work experience. This includes rejecting a one-size-fits-all approach to benefits,” Yardley said. 

For example, the study found that egg freezing and caregiving support did not increase male employees’ sense of belonging, even though it raised women’s sense of belonging by 22% and 45% respectively. 

Related: Beyond inclusion: Cultivating belonging for Gen Z in the workforce

In addition to differences among gender, employees with disabilities reported that unlimited vacation time and pet insurance were among the most important for increasing their sense of belonging at work. “When assessing what benefits to prioritize, as HR leaders, we have to think about our employee population and what’s going to have the biggest impact for the people on our teams,” Yardley said.