Navigating Roe v. Wade in the Workplace

Employers have a responsibility to provide guidance on creating a civil work environment in which different views are not just tolerated, but welcome. Active listening plays an important role.

• Commit to having the conversation. Before having a conversation, think through what you want to talk about, why you want to talk about it and the desired outcome.
• Get into the right mindset. Be sure to check any preconceptions and assumptions at the door, including your own unconscious biases.
• Begin the conversation by setting the stage. Explain why you are interested in your colleague's views and what the outcomes might be.
• Listen to understand, not to solve. Ask good questions and process the conversation so that you fully understand your colleague's views and ideas.
• Support a "we" attitude. Remind yourselves that you are in this together and working toward a shared goal of improving culture at your company.
  

Facilitating civil dialogue can help pre-empt heated debates and conflict, but employers must be equipped with the tools and skills to recognize and respond to incivility in the workplace.

• Focus on minimizing toxic conflict and its harmful effects, not quashing disagreements and debate.
• Recognize when healthy debate is devolving into negative conflict.
• Deal with conflicts quickly and directly before they escalate.
• Discuss how the conflict is affecting the workplace and share ideas for how parties involved would like for the conflict to be resolved.
• Identify areas of agreement and isolate areas of disagreement.
• Find a solution to which all parties can agree, then act on the decisions made.

Creating a more civil and productive work environment is everyone’s job, but HR professionals and people managers have a special role to play in setting the tone. Leading by example and holding people accountable for behavior that contributes to toxicity in the workplace are essential.

• Hire people who conduct themselves with civility.
• Conduct yourself with civility and reward the kind of behavior you expect of colleagues.
• Coach business leaders, managers and employees on how to be civil and respectful of others.
• Hold people accountable throughout your organization, regardless of their position in the organization.