Some employees feel that they have no identity at work. This means they believe that nobody at work really knows who they are and what they do. Today’s best managers know that knowing the identity of your employees can help increase their performance, their creativity, their satisfaction, and lower their absenteeism on the job. Getting to know an employee’s identity means knowing things like their ethnic background, where they grew up, and what they do when they are away from work, such as serve on the Parent Teacher Association at their child’s school.
Source: Thatcher, S. M. B., & Greer, L. L. 2008, February. Does it really matter if you recognize who I am? The implications of identity comprehension for individuals in work teams. Journal of Management, 34, 5-24.