Does your office pass the “civility test”? Workplaces that are civil and respectful have employees who are caring, considerate and courteous in their interactions with co-workers, clients and the public, notes the Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety.
“For workers, a civil and respectful workplace can translate into greater job satisfaction, greater perceptions of fairness and a more positive attitude,” CCOHS states, adding that “the organization’s bottom line benefits from improved morale, better teamwork, enhanced supervisor-staff relationships, and reduction in sick leave and turnover.”
If this doesn’t sound like your office, don’t fret. CCOHS offers 10 steps to help transform your office into a more respectful workplace:
- Train workers. Provide training on conflict resolution, anger management and how to listen better.
- Practice what you preach. “Adopt non-discriminatory language and maintain the confidentiality of employees’ personal information in all communications,” CCOHS states.
- Pay attention. Show workers respect by giving them your full attention during meetings and recognizing everyone’s input.
- Mind your language. Saying “please,” “thank you” and “I’m sorry” can have a big impact. Regularly express appreciation to co-workers for their help, and avoid interrupting others when they’re speaking. Apologize if you have mistakenly offended anyone.
- Say “hi.” It’s not uncommon in some work environments for co-workers to essentially ignore each other, so make an effort to say “hello.” Courtesy is infectious.
- Be considerate with your humor. Before making a joke, pause and ask yourself, “Is this remark at someone else’s expense? Will it embarrass someone?” If the answer to either is yes, don’t share the joke.
- Be inclusive. Look for ways to include co-workers in events or projects by inviting them to lunch or asking for their input.
- Be humble. Give others credit when they do a good job.
- Be a role model. Train managers and supervisors on how to promote and reinforce respectful leadership behavior.
- Don’t let disrespectful behavior stand. Establish policies that detail consequences for inappropriate behavior. Make an effort to manage conflicts in an effective and timely manner, and follow up with everyone involved.
