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Abstract
Belonging is the cognitive, emotional, and psychological human necessity to be accepted and included by group members based on one’s authentic identity as an individual (Baumeister & Leary, 1995; Brewer, 2007; Filstad et al., 2019; Lave & Wenger, 1991; Wenger, 2010) Moreover, belonging research has provided direct and indirect correlation for its ability to enhance motivation, job satisfaction, inclusion, and commitment (Gupta & Sharma, 2016; Leary & Cox, 2008). However, the responsibility for enhancing belonging within groups and organizations has largely fallen on the individual’s ability to be deemed a “fit.” Vast research outlines the mechanisms and methodology for individuals to gain fit; however, these are biased based on the socialization of the leaders and organizational culture (Castano et al., 2002; L. L. Liu & Lau, 2013; Wingfield & Chavez, 2020) which has exposed the gap that organizations lack the knowledge and skill to create environments where all employees feel they belong. Social cognitive theory (SCT) provides context for how individuals operate within sociostructural influences, understanding that people are producers as well as products of social systems and norms (Bandura, 2011) thereby for the desired behaviours and expected outcomes to occur, responsibility for belonging must exist between both individual and the organization. This study therefore explored the responsibility of belonging through the dimensions of environment, social, and organizational culture. Adapting a constructivist mixed methods grounded theory (GT) design, the Workplace Belonging Scale was validated and critical belonging behaviours and workplace tactics to measure, identify, and govern belonging in the workplace were achieved. Keywords: workplace belonging; organizational culture; corporate social responsibility (CSR); environmental, social, and governance (ESG); validated belonging instrument