Civility at Work
Amid today’s political and societal shifts, cultivating civility at work is a collective responsibility.
With 6 in 10 U.S. workers perceiving society as uncivil, we can use the workplace to model the change we want to see.
Civility Works
At SHRM, we recognize that civility is upheld through principles of empathy, respect, and trust. These guiding values enable organizations to create respectful environments that fosters engagement, innovation, and reduced turnover, all of which support organizational health and performance.
Become the Catalyst for Civility in your Workplace
171M
171 million people work in the U.S. every day.
59%
Over half of U.S. workers believe our society is uncivil.
212M
U.S. workers collectively experience 212 million acts of incivility per day.
$2.3B
U.S. organizations collectively lose about $2.3 billion per day in reduced productivity and absenteeism.
Equip Your Workplace to Lead with Civility
Member Only
Civil Conversations Starter Kit
An actionable guide for leaders to spark and sustain civil dialogue.
Member Only
Political Conversations Playbook
A practical guide to foster civility across political differences at work.
Member Only
Civility Scorecard
A customizable tool to measure civility, track trends, and target solutions.
Civility Index
The SHRM Civility Index uncovers what’s really happening in workplaces and how organizations can create cultures where people and performance thrive.
The current SHRM Civility Index score is 48.6, marking a 0.1-point increase since the Q3 2025 findings.
Explore the Index and see the full picture.
Talk. Listen. Respect. Repeat.
Stop Workplace Noise. Start Civil Conversations. SHRM and Inclusivv give you the ultimate toolkit for honest, respectful dialogue.
- Watch the Video Tutorial
- Download the Host Guide
Learn frameworks, mindsets, and techniques to turn talk into trust and respect.
Talk. Listen. Respect. Repeat.
Stop Workplace Noise. Start Civil Conversations. SHRM and Inclusivv give you the ultimate toolkit for honest, respectful dialogue.
- Watch the Video Tutorial
- Download the Host Guide
Learn frameworks, mindsets, and techniques to turn talk into trust and respect.
These resources are only available for SHRM Members. Please sign in to your account to access.
Latest on Civility
Insights, strategies, and stories that explore and advance civility at work.
Discover how workplace and societal incivility have a negative impact on employees’ mental health — and steps SHRM leaders say organizations should take.
Learn how RTO mandates are contributing to increased incivility among workers, according to SHRM’s latest Civility Index, and explore what employers can do to help.
Political differences are fueling record-high rates of incivility, according to SHRM’s Q4 Civility Index.
Promoting workplace civility following the election is “HR’s opportunity to make a difference in America,” SHRM President and Chief Executive Officer Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., SHRM-SCP, said at SHRM INCLUSION 2024.
Just ahead of the election, political tensions and disagreements are playing out in the workplace and in everyday life—and contributing to incivility now more than before, according to SHRM’s latest Civility Index.
Workplace miscommunications and misunderstandings are common. Explore these three scenarios to learn how to diffuse tension and promote respectful communication.