Quantum Connections: Employee Relationships Drive Profitability, Study Finds

Quantum Connections: Employee Relationships Drive Profitability, Study Finds

A 2024 research study commissioned by Quantum Connections™ has identified a crucial yet often overlooked driver of business success: employee connection.

Conducted by global behavioral research leader Sentient Decision Science, the study surveyed more than 12,000 employees across 49 industries. The findings reveal that when employees feel seen and heard in their workplace—as measured by Quantum Connections’ patent-pending Net Connected Score™ (NCS)—both human and business outcomes improve dramatically.

At its core, NCS is determined by a single but powerful question: “On a scale of 1-10, how seen and heard do you feel by your direct supervisor?” This question captures the fundamental need for human connection, a key driver of high-performing teams. The significance of this metric is evident when considering LinkedIn’s Workforce Confidence Survey, which found that seven in ten U.S. workers would leave a job due to a bad manager.

“Our research proves that the relationship between employees and their direct supervisors is the critical intersection where organizational success meets human need,” said Dennis S. Holland, CEO of Quantum Connections. “The extent to which employees feel seen and heard by their immediate supervisor directly correlates with key performance indicators like engagement, retention, and profitability.”

Key Research Findings

The study demonstrates that a connected workforce experiences lower attrition rates, leading to longer employee tenure and increased business profitability. Employees who feel connected are more engaged and contribute actively to company success.

When employees feel more seen and heard, businesses experience:

• Increased Engagement: Employees are at least 55% more likely to share ideas, 44% more likely to admit mistakes without fear, and 39% more likely to take calculated risks—driving innovation and teamwork.
• Higher Retention: Employees are 31% less likely to consider leaving their job weekly and stay with their employer an additional 9.5 months, reducing costly rehiring and retraining.
• Greater Profitability: Fully connected workforces achieve 38.7% greater profitability compared to disconnected teams, ensuring sustained business growth and stability.

“This research highlights that real change comes from transforming how people are managed and connected at work,” said Aaron Reid, Ph.D., founder and CEO of Sentient Decision Science. “Moreover, the human connection component of NCS is a superior predictor of business outcomes compared to traditional employee satisfaction and engagement metrics—making it a game-changing tool for business leaders.”

A Critical Moment for Workforce Connection

These findings arrive at a pivotal time as businesses struggle with high turnover and disengagement while managing global teams, hybrid work models, and a workforce spanning five generations.

“This study is more than just validation of a new metric—it provides a practical roadmap for organizations aiming to build more connected and productive workplaces,” concluded Holland. “Investing in fundamental human connection, particularly between supervisors and their teams, is not just about addressing workplace detachment; it’s about unlocking the full potential of both employees and organizations.”