Blog

The past two years have wreaked havoc on mental health in the workplace bringing unprecedented attention to a pre-existing healthcare crisis. Pulling back the layers, it is glaring how mental health stigma and a lack of belonging in the workplace are impacting employees’ mental well-being.

It is not simply enough to build a diverse workforce and let your employees get to work. To move the dial on employee engagement and overall performance outcomes, organizations must commit to actions to create an inclusive workplace where employees feel they belong.

Belonging can be described as being a member of one’s surrounding systems, such as family, friends, school, work environments, communities, cultural groupings, and physical places, is a subjective experience. Much like employees, the feeling of belonging is unique to the individual.

In recent years, many organizations have made great strides towards diversifying their workplaces and hiring employees that come from a variety of different backgrounds. This diversity is particularly important in positions of leadership and can have profound effects on organizational success.

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, remote work has become the norm for many. While there are many benefits of remote work, a major disadvantage is the feeling of isolation that may overtake some employees through a lack of pre-established personal connection.