How important is a sense of belonging to happiness at work? Long before the pandemic sent many of us home to work, a substantial number of people reported feeling “physically and emotionally isolated at work” per @HarvardBiz review circa 2019.

Nobody likes a troublemaker, right?

When employees bring up uncomfortable topics or point out room for improvement, the urge is often to shush or ignore that person. Yet, without a willingness to look at your company through a critical lens, you’ll never achieve innovation.

Your favorite employee is acting funny. She’s calling in sick, wandering in late, and the notion of pleasing you seems to have faded from her repertoire.

Brace yourself, because she may be about to quit.