Does Community Play a Role in Workplace Productivity?
Most Americans spend about a third of their lives in a workplace. Unfortunately, 48% of employees say that empathy isn’t matching expectations and needs to evolve in today’s workplaces. Learn why community plays a vital role in driving more satisfaction and productivity.
In our ninth State of Workplace Empathy study, we found that there are three key pillars to building an empathetic employee experience: Support the human, support the professional, and support their community.
Community plays a significant role in workplace satisfaction and productivity by fostering a sense of belonging and support among employees. When employees feel connected to their teams and the broader community, it enhances their motivation and engagement. Here’s what this looks like:
- Sense of Belonging: Employees crave a sense of belonging within their teams and communities, which can lead to higher job satisfaction and loyalty.
- Empathetic Behaviors: Supporting one’s community through empathetic actions can elevate workplace culture, making it more inclusive and supportive.
- Supportive Workplaces: In environments perceived as toxic, employees are more likely to experience mental health issues, which can negatively impact productivity. A strong community can counteract these effects by providing support and understanding.
- Diversity and Inclusion: Community-driven initiatives, such as diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) programs, can improve feelings of authenticity and connectedness, further enhancing workplace satisfaction.
- Collaboration and Support: A strong community encourages collaboration and mutual support, which can lead to increased innovation and efficiency.
Overall, a supportive community within the workplace can lead to a more positive work environment, boosting both satisfaction and productivity.
What does community look like in the workplace?
Supporting community in the workplace involves fostering a sense of belonging among employees within their teams and broader work communities. This can be achieved through both organized initiatives, such as Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) programs, and individualized efforts, like going the extra mile to assist a colleague.
According to our Empathy data, having a strong community at work plays a role in how empathy is perceived in the workplace. Benefits of having an empathetic workplace include:
- Improved job satisfaction
- Increased motivation
- Lower turnover rates
Building and supporting community at work emphasizes empathy that extends beyond just “words on the wall” and truly builds a supportive and inclusive space where employees can thrive as individuals, professionals, and peers.
Hear from our Solvers about what community means and looks like to them.
Community is built on mutual respect and understanding
“At Businessolver we are one community in the sense that we have an understanding and acceptance of all our employees that goes beyond just day to day work. We value and practice mutual respect and continuous empathy. As the Director of the Foundation, I truly believe our giving back spirt brings us together in a way that is unique and innovative. When we are serving our communities, specifically through volunteerism, we are all one and have an equal stake in our company’s continuous stance towards DEIB efforts. It is ingrained in our spirit and actions.”
Carrie Clogg, Foundation Director
Collaboration and a sense of shared purpose drives connection
“At Businessolver, community means fostering a culture of collaboration, support, and shared purpose. It’s about coming together to innovate, solve problems, and celebrate successes, knowing that each individual’s contributions and true self strengthens the whole.”
Erin Woods, VP of Administration
An empathetic community in the workplace welcomes people as their authentic selves
“Community at Businessolver means being able to show up authentically as myself, surrounded by people who uplift and support me, and being part of a team that genuinely cares about each other and our collective success.”
Becky Hayter, Sr. Consumer Experience Strategist
“Community, to me, means a place that I feel like I belong and accepted, not just tolerated. Having groups and events that celebrate each of us as individuals, not just numbers at a company, help make sure there is a strong sense of community.”
David Chasse, Client Services Champion
How you can support workplace community and belonging in your organization
Employees crave a sense of belonging within their teams and communities at work and beyond. From organized initiatives like DEIB to individualized efforts like going the extra mile to help a colleague, supporting one’s community takes empathetic behavior to the next level.
38% of employees say they look to their managers as leading empathy in the workplace, but 36% of employees say that the top barrier to empathy at work sits with their leadership not being supportive of empathy.
According to our empathy data, these are the top behaviors employees say support community at work:
- Advocating on behalf of another colleague
- Going the extra mile to help a peer or college meet an immediate deadline
- Developing and supporting DEIB initiatives
- Ensuring equitable treatment
Building community can be as diverse as your workforce. But to be successful, the efforts need to be intentional and sustainable. Gathering employee feedback through regular pulsing, facilitating open communication, and even providing ongoing training for managers can help foster a stronger community in your workplace.
Learn more about how you can put empathy into action in our State of Workplace Empathy report, A Game Plan for Putting Empathy Into Action.
