Nearly half (45%) of US workers say employers aren't investing in employee connection, according to an Eagle Hill Consulting national survey. Employee connection is not only about connection to people, but connection to their work, organization, and culture, the consulting firm says.

Employees say feeling connected to their work improves their ability to do their job (60%), day-to-day work quality (58%), desire to go above and beyond (55%), and ability to serve customers (47%).

When it comes to the impact of connections on job satisfaction, 48% of workers say connection to their work impacts their decision to stay or leave their job.

"What we are seeing is that organizations are looking too narrowly at employee connection, defining it only in terms of employee relationships," said Melissa Jezior, president and chief executive officer of Eagle Hill Consulting. "Employee connection is so much more than hosting happy hours and social events. Instead, employers should take a bigger picture, strategic view. Employee connection is about fostering a workplace where employees feel connection not just to people, but also to their work, organization, and culture."

Five ways employers can improve employee connections are:

• Reimagine employee connection. Take an objective look at programs already in place that foster connection among people, across day-to-day work, and to the broader organization. Pinpoint what's working, the gaps, and the impact of change.
  
  
• Ask employees what they need, and listen. Check in with employees through surveys and focus groups to uncover areas for improvement and solutions.
  
  
• Identify organic and inorganic opportunities to connect. Creating the space and opportunity for connection requires thought and some orchestration, particularly when employees are working remotely and are not in a shared physical space.
  
  
• Create a sense of purpose with a strong vision for the future. Assess whether the current organizational vision is still relevant and reset it if necessary.
  
  
• Make the business case for investing in improving employee connection. When communicating the business value of connection, emphasize talent retention, quality outcomes, customer service improvements, improved employee morale, and greater collaboration and innovation.

Read the report, "Fostering employee connection beyond relationships delivers big business results," here