Community and Connection: Fostering Employee Belonging in the Workplace

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Company culture. It's a perennial topic of conversation for HR professionals, but what does it mean in practice? And what practical steps can you take to create a thriving workplace culture? Mission, values, and goals—these are all important facets of culture. But we can't forget about community. Workplace community is what brings employees together. It’s the sense of belonging, trust, and unity that helps people feel welcome and encourages them to stay.

For organizations seeking to attract, retain, and grow top talent, a strong workplace community is vital. You'll know you've successfully facilitated this kind of community when your teams experience meaningful connections, a strong sense of belonging, and a compelling purpose. But community building takes mindful work.

Join Daniel Patterson and Dr. Cristen Dalessandro of the O.C. Tanner Institute during this webinar as they share the research and insights you need to establish the practical steps your organization can take to strengthen workplace communities and help your people thrive.

Learn:

What elements are essential to a strong workplace community
How strong workplace communities create a high sense of belonging and connection for employees, including hybrid and remote workers
How integrated recognition and modern leadership practices improve community

About the Speakers

Daniel Patterson

Manager, Research and Assessment, O.C. Tanner Institute

As a research manager for the O.C. Tanner Institute, Daniel oversees the IP research team in developing original, large-scale, cross-cultural studies that explore the intersection of workplace culture, recognition, and the employee experience. Specializing in mixed-method research, he collaboratively develops strategic research that supports client solutions, shapes product strategy, and identifies long-term industry trends and transitions.

Daniel excels in translating complex data into actionable insights that help global organizations advance measurable strategies for success. Daniel holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Utah, with advanced studies in research and theory.

Cristen Dalessandro, PhD

Principal Researcher, O.C. Tanner Institute

Cristen is a principal researcher and sociologist at O.C. Tanner who specializes in the study of social inequalities as well as qualitative and quantitative research methods. As part of the O.C. Tanner Institute and the Research Center of Excellence, Cristen’s work focuses on the employee experience and workplace culture using a social science lens.

In addition to contributing to Institute research projects such as the State of Employee Recognition and annual Global Culture Report, Cristen is an award-winning researcher who has published over 30 articles in peer-reviewed journals and one book, Intimate Inequalities: Millennials’ Romantic Relationships in Contemporary Times. Cristen has a PhD from the University of Colorado Boulder and completed her postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Utah.

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