diff --git a/roles/users/defaults/main.yaml b/roles/users/defaults/main.yaml
index d466b07..bf94418 100644
--- a/roles/users/defaults/main.yaml
+++ b/roles/users/defaults/main.yaml
@@ -1,2 +1,5 @@
 ---
 user_default_shell: /bin/bash
+user_default_groups:
+  - users
+user_interactive_user_mandatory_groups: users
diff --git a/roles/users/tasks/main.yaml b/roles/users/tasks/main.yaml
index 531b29b..ea6174b 100644
--- a/roles/users/tasks/main.yaml
+++ b/roles/users/tasks/main.yaml
@@ -1,4 +1,10 @@
 ---
+- name: create the users group
+  group:
+    name: "{{ item }}"
+    state: present
+  loop: "{{ user_default_groups }}"
+
 - name: ensure groups
   group:
     name: "{{ item.name }}"
@@ -25,6 +31,14 @@
   when: users_interactive is defined
   no_log: yes
 
+- name: add users to default groups
+  user:
+    name: "{{ item.name }}"
+    groups: "{{ user_interactive_user_mandatory_groups | default(omit) }}"
+    append: yes
+  with_items: "{{ users_interactive }}"
+  when: users_interactive is defined and user_interactive_user_mandatory_groups is defined
+
 - name: ensure system groups
   group:
     name: "{{ item.name }}"