Tempers Are Hot Leading Up to Election Day. We Must Practice Civility, Especially at Work.
Commentary by Johnny C. Taylor Jr. for U.S. News
The Importance of Civility in the U.S.
Practicing civil behavior establishes a safe and empathetic environment where individuals can contribute their best ideas, knowing they will be heard and valued.
Civility is more than making others feel comfortable; it's about creating a dynamic, diverse, and productive workplace where everyone can thrive.
161M
161 million people work in the U.S. every day.
58%
Over half of U.S. workers believe our society is uncivil.
202M
U.S. workers collectively experience 202 million acts of incivility per day.
2B
U.S. organizations collectively lose about $2 billion per day in reduced productivity and absenteeism.
Every voice makes a difference. Have you been civil today?
Fostering Civil Conversations at Work
SHRM and Inclusivv have created exclusive resources to empower SHRM members to foster civil conversations at work. Watch the Video Tutorial and download the Host Guide to learn proven techniques, essential mindsets and effective frameworks to engage in open and honest conversations.
Inclusivv provides civility trainings and workshops to help organizations build cultures of trust, inclusion and respect through meaningful conversations.
Fostering Civil Conversations at Work
SHRM and Inclusivv have created exclusive resources to empower SHRM members to foster civil conversations at work. Watch the Video Tutorial and download the Host Guide to learn proven techniques, essential mindsets, and effective frameworks to engage in open and honest conversations.
Inclusivv provides civility trainings and workshops to help organizations build cultures of trust, inclusion, and respect through meaningful conversations.
These resources are only available for SHRM Members. Please sign in to your account to access.
Facilitating Open Dialogue with Your Team
Access this free, web-based tool from SHRM and Rising Team to facilitate a team activity for fostering civil and open dialogue:
- Developed from SHRM leadership research on civility
- 30 to 60 minute exercise based on team size
- Builds trust and connection
- Suitable for in-person and remote teams
- Ideal for all levels, from executives to frontline
SHRM + Civility
Civility at Work
Civility in Action
Civility Defined
Insightful Content, Expert Perspectives
Many U.S. workers are bracing for more political discussions at home and work. Half of employees believe workplace political discussions hurt the work environment, according to new data.
It’s important to establish policies and procedures regarding divisive workplace discussions before they become an issue. With a contentious presidential election on the horizon, learn these four tactics for combating workplace incivility outlined by a SHRM24 speaker.
Disrespect among employees can lead to a toxic workplace. HR leaders who promote mutual understanding can defuse tensions before they boil over.
It’s time we lean into diversity of thought, seeing it for the strength it is and, ultimately, using it to create stronger, better-connected organizations that are able to effect greater change.
In the latest People + Strategy podcast, the chief people officer at Dick’s Sporting Goods explained how the company used employee feedback to completely flip the way it trained managers and staff to deal with customer conflicts.
For many workers, interactions with colleagues bring a diversity of viewpoints and experiences that they would otherwise lack, as our communities and social feeds become increasingly homogenous. By learning to engage more thoughtfully, colleagues can learn to work closely with those with different viewpoints without communication breakdowns, unproductive conflict, and relationship damage.
Get the Tea on Civility
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