Reinventing Kindness at WorkHow can we find a way for kindness to work at work and in our personal lives?
People see if you are kind there is a weakness in you, people can take advantage of you and any situations at work. One needs to be strong, lay down the law, what is acceptable, buy into the fear of work or someone else. This behavior is when kindness goes out the window.
A case in point of writing this I have been working in a non-profit of which HR and managers didn’t want to hear from anyone who is having issues about harassment. When I presented that I was being harassed by another employee. The answer was you are the problem!
So who is being disrespectful? How can we look at this scenario to apply kindness instead of pointing a finger?
Here’s what HR should be doing about a complaint https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbeshumanresourcescouncil/2018/09/10/when-an-employee-files-a-harassment-complaint-heres-what-hr-needs-to-do-first/?sh=6d1f4c4d3548
In my case, it was blurred boundaries, they felt I was leading him on. At what point when I say NO, that it couldn’t be honored?
What happened they have been gathering information, true or not to discredit me who is having harassment issues. HR is no longer on the employee side of the complaint. I realized this, when HR called me into their office for me to tell them about the incident. My boundaries were not being respected by them nor the aggressor.
What happens when kindness is not given, civility and respect at work has just diminished.
Let’s take a look at civility and respect at work.. When the higher ups like managers and HR allow disrespect or bullying to happen, should we question if they are too, not respectful?
Saying we don’t tolerate harassment isn’t enough, the key is what action are you going to take to resolve the issue?
It is important that offering help or assistance to both parties is given, in my case nothing was done, other than remove me from working with him. Nothing was offered to clear up the situation. Like counseling or meditation was offered to help heal the process once this has occurred.
If nothing is done then the organization is not a safe place to work at. Certainly respect and the well-being of all concerned is not important either.
Plus, the situation was not held in confidence and now the gossip mill begins. Another round of harassment has started. The person who is considered the harasser keeps doing what he was doing, as he has not been reprimanded or held accountable or responsible for his actions.
“Organizations that value and improve the health of the workplace can improve their organization profile. Which will result in better recruitment and retention rates, enhancing the potential for growth.”
Why is a respectful workplace important?
Guarding Minds@Work https://www.workplacestrategiesformentalhealth.com/resources/guarding-minds-at-work
Offers some ideas- “A civil and respectful workplace is related to greater job satisfaction, greater perceptions of fairness, a more positive attitude, improved morale, better teamwork, greater interest in personal development, engagement in problem resolution, enhanced supervisor-staff relationships, and reduction in sick leave and turnover.
Organizations characterized by civility and respect create a positive atmosphere marked by high spirits.”
When respect & civility is missing at work -“Probably the most extreme example of disrespectful behaviour is bullying. Exposure to workplace bullying is associated with psychological complaints, depression, burnout, anxiety, aggression, psychosomatic complaints and musculoskeletal health complaints.”
Bullying not only affects those directly involved, but also affects bystanders, as they too experience higher levels of stress.
Reinventing kindness at work or in our communities is about stopping the negative gossip, find ways to support each other. Re-examine how we are creating an inclusive place to be – home, at work, in our communities.
Written by Mari-Lyn Harris a Chief Kindness Officer, Speaker and Life Coach using Kindness as a vehicle for social change. Produced Kindness@Work Conferences to inspire and uplift people. “People who do the right thing.”
https://www.linkedin.com/in/marilynhharris
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