Many UK employees feel lack of sense of belonging at workplace – new survey

• Aparna Sreevalsan
• 27 October, 2023

ONE IN four (25 per cent) of the UK employees don’t believe they have a voice in their company or that their employer values, listens, and acts upon staff feedback – this includes 29 per cent of non-managers and 23 per cent of junior and middle managers, according to a new survey.

Ciphr’s ‘Diversity, equality, inclusion and belonging at workplace survey’– also found out that just two-thirds (63 per cent) of the UK employees think their organisation prioritises EDI training.

About 15 per cent of respondents who identify as members of ethnic minorities stated that they feel either very seldom or never at work, while eight per cent indicated they are not sure.

Other key findings include:

• Twenty-two per cent of the total, were unsure if they had a voice or not, which may indicate that many of them don’t.
• One in six (18 per cent) feel they don’t belong at work most or all the time (that rises to 33 per cent of under-24s).
• One in six (18 per cent) don’t agree that their organisation’s policies are implemented consistently.
• One in seven (14 per cent) don’t think that their leaders lead inclusively.
• One in seven (14 per cent) don’t agree that discriminatory or inappropriate behaviour is appropriately addressed at their organisation.
• One in 20 (five per cent) aren’t sure if they belong at the workplace or not and nearly a fifth (18 per cent) of all respondents (21 per cent of men and 15 per cent of women) rarely or never feel like they belong at work.

This suggests that many workers in the UK may not feel like they belong at work now.

Ann Allcock, head of diversity at Ciphr said: “Ciphr’s Equality, Diversity, Inclusion, & Belonging (EDI&B) survey results provide some significant and interesting insights into today’s workplace culture and practices.

“One finding that stands out for me is how the youngest employees feel less positive about their workplaces across all areas – which is disheartening and concerning.

“Having strong EDI&B credentials can make the difference between attracting, recruiting, and retaining that younger person with potential or not. So, employers would be well advised to consider what these survey results mean for them.”

A third (33 per cent) of 18- to 24-year-olds feel a lack of sense of belonging at work most or all the time. This compares to 19 per cent of employees aged 25- to 34-years-old, 16 per cent of those aged 35- to 44-years-old, and 14 per cent of those over-45.

According to Ciphr’s research, having a positive employee experience and feeling like belonging at work go hand in hand.

Ciphr also suggests actions that can be taken at workplaces to improve diversity and belonging in the workplace.

*Ciphr – HR Software Provider