Civility and Respect in the Workplace

Where everyone is respectful and considerate in their interactions with one another, as well as with customers, clients and the public.

A civil and respectful workplace

• Greater job satisfaction
• Greater perceptions of fairness
• Improved morale
• Better teamwork
• Greater interest in personal development
• Engagement in problem resolution
• Enhanced relationships
• Reduced sick leave and turnover

Employers, a more positive workplace culture begins with you!

• Define civility
  Engage everyone in conversations and educational opportunities, like discussion groups, about what civility means to them. Consider posting a code of conduct that outlines respectful and civil behaviour, relating it back to your organization’s values and ethics.
• Train and develop, based on your definition of civility and respect
  Provide training and resources on listening, giving feedback, conflict resolution, interacting with customers, recognizing uncivil behaviour and how to address it.
• Incorporate civility and respect in communications
  Adopt non-discriminatory language and maintain the confidentiality of personal information in all communications. Ensure that communications are easy to find and accessible to all.
• Address uncivil behaviour
  Create and enforce policies detailing consequences for inappropriate behaviour. Allow for constructive problem-solving. Manage conflicts in an effective and timely fashion, and follow-up with all parties involved.
• Be a role model
  Promote and reinforce respectful leadership behaviour and recognize everyone’s respectful behaviours. Provide managers, supervisors and staff with ongoing training and supports, and ensure that they are available, present, and in contact to recognize and resolve issues.

Tips for everyone

• Give your full attention
  Focus on the conversation at hand. Turn off your cell phone or any other distracting device.
• Value others' time
  If you're going to be late for a meeting, let the organizer know in advance.
• Say "hello"
  Next time you pass a colleague in the hallway, say hello. Acknowledgement and courtesy help build positive morale.
• Use respectful language
  Simple words such as 'please', 'thank you', 'excuse me', and 'I'm sorry' are easy ways to establish civility.
• Be considerate when you speak
  Before making a joke, consider the audience. Humour is great but may not be appropriate in all situations.
• Be inclusive
  Bridge social barriers by looking for opportunities to include others. Invite them to lunch, chat about the weekend, or ask for their input.
• Practice humility
  Elevate people around you by giving them credit when they do a good job. Share in the satisfaction.