Building Belonging Through Trust: A Foundational Capability for Our Company's Future

Here’s a statistic that caught my eye recently: Employees who feel trusted are 23% more likely to share ideas and 21% more likely to take ownership of their work, according to the American Psychological Association. 

In other words, trust helps people feel they belong. 

It’s no surprise then that one of PG&E's Virtues is trustworthy. In fact, it's been dubbed the Virtue of the Year to bring extra attention to it. We recognize that trust is critical to the company's success in serving customers every day and delivering on PG&E's long term goals. 

Trust and Psychological Safety 

When trust is a big part of workplace culture, it creates a sense of psychological safety. That means coworkers feel safe to speak up, share creative solutions, and even make mistakes without fear of punishment.  

Trust helps create an environment where people’s efforts are valued, which leads to better work quality and a stronger sense of belonging. When employees trust that they'll be respected, they’re more likely to engage fully and collaborate.  

This open communication is essential for innovation. In striving to meet the changing energy needs of customers, the ability to think creatively and approach challenges from new angles is vital.  

For example, think about a team working on a new project to improve energy delivery. When team members trust each other, they’ll be more likely to challenge assumptions, suggest bold ideas, and discuss the best way forward. This kind of teamwork results in higher-quality outcomes—ones that are innovative and inclusive. 

Trust, Wholeness and Belonging 

Trust also plays a vital role in fostering a sense of wholeness, where employees can bring their full selves to work. When people trust that they can be authentic without fear of judgment, they’re more engaged and committed to their work and the team. This sense of wholeness directly contributes to belonging.  

Belonging is about more than just fitting in; it’s about feeling that one is part of something bigger, that one's unique contributions matter.  

We’re committed to leveraging trust as a foundational capability to ensure every coworker feels a part of the “we” in our mission. Regardless of one's role, trust empowers an individual to contribute meaningfully, innovate boldly, and deliver excellence. 

Our Commitment to Trust and Belonging 

Looking to the future, PG&E's commitment is clear: We will continue to build and nurture trust across the company. This trust will help create a culture where everyone feels they belong, where everyone feels they can succeed, and where everyone's efforts lead to success for the company and our customers.