Of Belonging, Learning And Building

Before we get lulled into the security that vaccinations bring, dreaming about our first overseas trip and fantasizing how much easier this deal will be face-to-face like the halcyon days pre-COVID, we should ask ourselves if the vaccine also vaccinates us against legacy failures.

- Melanie Cook

This includes ensuring belonging and what it really is in a world where the remote working genie is out of the bottle.

Here in Singapore, government efforts have multiplied tenfold to support its citizens and businesses — from financial support schemes to tax rebates and SGUnited Jobs and Skills Packages.

It is more important than ever for governments, private sectors, and individuals to re-evaluate what it means to belong to a community, and what one can do about it.

What does belonging in a time of isolation, fear and mistrust really mean? In an age of transience, globalization and radical change, how does one find their roots? In a bid to include diversity, representation and ethical hiring practices, how does one know that they truly belong?

It matters because it’s hardwired into our DNA — research shows that social exclusion is experienced as painful because reactions to rejection are moderated by aspects of the physical pain system.

According to an Ernst & Young survey in 2019, 40 per cent of U.S. respondents reported feeling physically and emotionally isolated in the workplace.

With the growing scarcity of tech-skilled employees and a modern workforce looking to make a difference, forward-thinking leaders are finding ways to go beyond diversity and inclusion box checking. We believe that education must take up this mantle and help all, not just the enlightened few, to excel in diversity, accelerate inclusion and build belonging.