As loneliness continues to rise across the workforce, the need to feel a sense of belonging has become central to how people experience and thrive at work. New research from McLean & Company reveals that the ability to foster authentic connection directly correlates with critical business outcomes. Despite this, the firm’s insights show that belonging remains one of the most overlooked and underinvested areas in HR. In an era defined by uncertainty and a growing epidemic of loneliness, McLean & Company’s research calls on organizations to shift their perspective to recognize belonging as a core ingredient in building strong, adaptable, and successful organizations.
The recently published research identifies belonging as a powerful and dynamic force rooted in how individuals feel seen, heard, and connected at work. Key findings include the following.
- Employees who feel comfortable being themselves at work at 5.7 times more likely to be engaged and 70% more likely to stay with their organization.
- Employees who feel their contributions are important are 3.5 times more likely to handle stress effectively.
- Teams reporting their organization is increasing investment into employee belonging are 54% more likely to highly rate their organization’s revenue growth.
- Yet, despite its impact, only 31% of HR leaders report increasing investment into belonging-related initiatives.
McLean & Company’s research insights underscore that belonging is not a passive outcome—it must be deliberately designed and consistently sustained. In hybrid and distributed environments especially, the opportunity to connect meaningfully doesn’t happen by chance. The firm’s insights provide guidance on how organizations can create connections by embedding belonging into the core of talent practices, from hiring and performance management to learning and development and employee listening.
“Belonging is a unifying force in a divided and disconnected world. It’s about creating the conditions for people to connect and contribute meaningfully, be more resilient through complexity, and thrive together,” says Elysca Fernandes, director of HR and advisory services at McLean & Company. “It has the potential to transform our individual and collective experiences, expanding our horizons to achieve better outcomes both now and in the future.”
The World Health Organization and U.S. Surgeon General have both flagged loneliness as a public health concern, which underscores the importance of strengthening connection and community at work – and employers can play an essential role. McLean & Company’s research pushes beyond definitions to explore the nuances of what belonging truly means in today’s workplaces and acknowledges that belonging is deeply personal, shaped by cultural background, employment type, lived experience, and even trauma.
The firm reports that for some, belonging may be rooted in team relationships; for others, it’s found in meaningful work, aligned values, or flexibility and autonomy. This variability makes a one-size-fits-all approach ineffective and highlights the importance of listening for what drives belonging at all levels. McLean & Company offers a research-backed, actionable framework to optimize employees’ sense of belonging, from listening to building belonging skills, to create an intentional, adaptable, and future-ready organization.
