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Today’s workforce has never been more digitally connected, yet many employees feel more isolated than ever. New research from EY’s Global Belonging Barometer 4.0 reveals a workforce quietly facing a greater sense of disconnection, despite technology’s promise of greater connection.
Based on insights from more than 5,000 employees across organizations and regions, the study shows a troubling pattern: employees feel less understood, less supported, and less able to show up authentically at work. Expectations for psychological safety are changing. External uncertainty is heightening emotional strain.
As Karyn Twaronite, EY Global Vice Chair, puts it, “Technology has made us more reachable than ever, but that isn’t the same as authentic connection. Belonging starts when people feel understood and safer to be themselves.”
Disconnection is intensifying, especially for younger people
Eighty-five percent of employees report experiencing moments of exclusion, indicating that digital reach does not translate into emotional connection. Younger employees feel this most acutely, with over half saying they regularly go a full workday without a single real-time conversation (54% of Gen Z and 50% of Millennials).
These experiences ripple into performance. When workers feel disconnected, they disengage. They collaborate less. They hesitate to contribute authentically. That’s a direct productivity hit that leaders must address by creating structured touchpoints – live check-ins, cross-team dialogues, and mentorship to maintain the connective tissue of an organization’s culture.
Twaronite highlights, “Belonging doesn’t happen by accident. It’s the result of intentional behaviors in the workplace that make people feel seen and heard.”
Trust is fragile, even as work remains a lifeline
Despite the challenges, work remains the second-strongest source of belonging after home, but sustaining that connection requires psychological safety. Nearly half (48%) of employees say the ability to speak openly without fear is their number one driver of belonging.
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Marcel Schwantes
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