Respect & Civility at Work any behaviors commonly ex- •Differences: Participating in intolerant hibited by employees can be Big Impacts from Small Stuff behavior or using language associated with detrimental to the well-being racial, sexual, age-related, or other human M he following are some common behaviors differences that offends or contributes to a and productivity of coworkers. A T often considered disrespectful. Do you hostile, offensive, or intimidating work en- lack of respect in the workplace, if practice any of them? Have you been on the vironment. left unchecked, will drag down mo- receiving end of some? You may notice some Interpersonal: Behaving in a way that rale, create higher turnover, and missing that you have experienced. Use the • list to help you consider your role in helping invalidates someone else’s successes; increase risks to the employer. Do maintain a respectful workplace. spreading rumors, or not correcting rumors; you contribute to a respectful work- •Communication: Interrupting others talking about someone behind his or her back or taking credit for someone else’s place? while they are speaking; cutting someone off work; criticizing a coworker’s character to before he or she has finished expressing a another worker who has not formulated a thought; neglecting to say please and thank firsthand opinion; labeling coworkers with What Signals Are You Sending? you; purposely avoiding an obvious moment personality or character traits you don’t to offer a compliment, to say good morning, espect is the regard or consideration we like; habitually using cynical language or Rhave for others in all aspects of what con- etc.; criticizing someone in front of peers; us- sarcasm; not sharing in the work. cerns them—personal property, appearance, ing profanity to “be yourself” and making this Macro Issues: Macro issues can be rhe- character traits, values, personal space, opin- other people’s problem if they don’t like it. • ions, and emotional well-being. Disrespect torical and may not be directed specifically toward others can negatively affect any of •Privacy: Asking personal questions of at one person. Espousing religious and po- these things, so it is important to understand someone you do not know well; reading an- litical views that others may not want to the role we play in maintaining a respectful other person’s mail; peering at someone’s hear; repeating catastrophic and workplace. Each of us has personal power, computer screen. “doomsday” predictions about the com- and with it, we affect others around us, pany, the country, the world, or geopoliti- whether we know it or not. • Boundaries: Taking things from another cal issues that maintain an atmosphere of person’s desk; not returning loaned books, anxiety for others. supplies, or other property; standing too close You have the Power or staring at another person; not stopping of- fensive behaviors after a reasonable request. Your Respectful Workplace our daily actions signal to others the level eing respectful of others isn’t about Y of personal respect that you hold for them. •Environmental: Not cleaning up after Understanding that what you do matters can yourself in the staff kitchen; having a loud B “censorship” or “walking on egg increase your personal awareness and give you conversation or playing loud music; keeping shells.” It’s about awareness so you can more control over the direct, indirect, or un- your work area unsightly, overly dirty, or practice self-discipline—knowing the pow- spoken signals you send to others. It can lead dusty; displaying visual objects in your work- erful impact we all have on each other and you to make improvements in your relation- space that offend others or contrast heavily knowing that each person has a vital role in ships and increase your happiness at work. with what most people consider good taste or creating the type workplace that we all This awareness is the key to minimizing strife appropriate; using the last of something and want to share. and hostility, and to increasing the courtesy not replacing it—food, supplies, toilet paper. and mutual respect all of us want from each other. © 2008 EAPtools.com F005 .