The Importance of encouraging respect at the workplace
- A study conducted and published in the Harvard Business Review on disrespect at the workplace and its consequences for employees included the following:
- 78% employees said their commitment to the organization declined
- 66% employees experienced decline in their performance
- 48% intentionally decreased their work effort
- 38% intentionally decreased the quality of their work
- 80% lost work time worrying about the incident
- 63% lost work time avoiding the offender
- 12% left their job because of the uncivil treatment
- 25% admitted that their frustration was taken on the clients or customers
What is Respect at the Workplace? - “Respect” refers to having regard or consideration for the feelings, wishes or the rights of others
- A respectful workplace is where integrity and professionalism are encouraged and also includes having support of colleagues and the ability to voice out about observed or inappropriate behaviour as well as discrimination.
- Training programs on effective ethics, values are part of the organizational culture to teach employees to accept responsibilities, to speak up about inappropriate behaviors and to consider values in their decision making processes.
What are the characteristics of a respectful workplace?
- A respectful workplace is where all employees are treated equally, and valued. It is also an environment where differences of all others are acknowledged and an environment where communication is open and courteous.
- A proper conflict resolution system exists and issues are addressed quickly and properly. The organization encourages a culture of employee empowerment, commitment and cooperation.
Is it important to have a respectful workplace
- A respectful workplace is critical for top performing organizations.
- It creates a less stressed environment for work
- Employees are much happier and healthier to work effectively and efficiently
- Productivity levels are increased and enhances the organization’s bottom line (Total organization’s earnings)
- Employees have a sense of belongingness as well as a buy-in
Types of Disrespect at the workplace
- Angry or rude outbursts
- Verbal threats
- Swearing
- Overbearing behaviours, arrogant, sarcastic
- Demeaning comments, hostile notes and emails
- Gossip and backstabbing behaviour
- Fault finding and distortion or deliberate misinterpretation of communication
- Humiliation: staring, glaring, shaming body parts etc.
- Insults or insensitive jokes
- Misogynistic (One having a strong dislike of women) comments
- Unreasonably critical of authority
- Refusing to accept tasks: stubborn about performing tasks their own way
- Making others look bad an acting innocent
- Undermining other’s position or status
- Physical violence
- Sexual violence
- Sexual harassment
Detecting disrespectful Behaviour
- By observation, paying attention and being alert
- Being mindful about persons who go beyond boundaries of normal friendliness
- Creating safe spaces for conversation about such issues
- Providing suggestion boxes for anonymous complaints and feedback
- Being knowledgeable about what constitutes disrespectful behaviour
How to create a respectful workplace
- Establish a committee consisting of senior management, members of the board and other trusted members of the organization to address such inappropriate behaviours
- Establish a policy of Zero Tolerance which must be done at the orientation stage to reduce such disrespectful behaviours.
- Include these policies of inappropriate behaviour as part of their code of conduct that will serve as a disciplinary plan for the organization and clearly explain these to employees and not assume they already know.
- Establish a communication strategy that allows employees to communicate freely
- Conflict resolution system must be established to manage conflicts
- Implement a confidential reporting system for detecting bad behaviour, employees must have knowledge of the no retribution policy for reporting.
- Training staff about respectful workplace and detecting inappropriate behaviour must be mandatory. This training must be constant which will serve as a reminder to all staff.
Impact of Disrespectful Behaviours
- Disrespectful behaviour at the workplace affect every part of the organization, the employees, management, clients including performance, communication, productivity etc.
- Staff morale is undermined, staff turnover is high and a very toxic environment is created.
- These behaviours are also linked to medical problems like hypertension, depression, fear, anger, low self esteem, insomnia , fatigue etc. and all these mentioned have adverse effect on the organization.
- To prevent all these, a respectful environment must be created for the employees and the organization.
Benefits of a respectful workplace
- A respectful workplace is essential for organizations and their employees. The benefits are many and some of them are the following: stimulation of creativity, healthy working relationships and increased productivity.
- Respect stimulates creativity
- Respect increases employee engagement
- Respectful environment contributes to Job satisfaction
- Respect enhances customer satisfaction
- Respect increases employee collaboration and support for teamwork
FACTS OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT - The victim as well as the perpetrator of sexual harassment may be a woman or a man. The victim does not have to be of the opposite sex.
- The harasser can be the victim’s supervisor, an agent of the employer, a supervisor in another area, a co-worker, or a non-employee.
- The victim does not have to be the person harassed but could be anyone affected by the offensive conduct.
- Unlawful sexual harassment may occur without economic injury to or discharge of the victim.
- The harasser’s conduct must be unwelcome.
The three (3) types of Sexual Harassment
- Physical
- Sexual
- Visual
- Physical Harassment
- Lustful hand gestures to convey suggestive messages
- Unwanted touching of a person, clothing, hair
- Frequently following or standing too close to a person
- Playing offensive music
Sexual Harassment
- Verbal/Written
- Sending offensive jokes or graphics via email, text, social media
- Repeatedly requesting dates of sexual favors in person or through text messages
Visual Harassment
- It is the most difficult one to detect as well as the physical
- Wearing clothes with offensive or vulgar language
- Display posters or pictures of a sexual nature
- Requesting for naked photos from another
- Watching pornographic or violent videos
- Sending other people sexually suggestive messages
What is Sexual Harassment?
This is any type of behaviour which is unwelcome, totally unwanted and of a sexual nature. When this behaviour is not addressed and continues especially at the workplace, it creates a hostile and very uncomfortable workplace or environment. Examples of such behaviour are suggestive comments, unwelcome sexual comments, jokes etc.
Addressing Sexual Harassment at the workplace
- Awareness creation: including pop email messages, postures and flyers
- Adopt a policy on anti-sexual harassment
- Provide budgetary support for training staff
- Provide workable procedures and sanctions
- Establish a committee to handle complaints
- Provide support, such as counselling for the victims and the perpetrator
- Prevent victimization and retaliation
- Increase security cameras e.g. CCTV at the office
- Promote a respectful workplace
