After the heated rhetoric of last November’s U.S. presidential election, Interpublic (IPG), my company’s parent corporation, held its first open call for employees to talk about concerns related to respect in the workplace. IPG wanted to reinforce its commitment to inclusion. People called in anonymously from five continents. What struck me most was how many people talked about feeling unsafe as a result of the political atmosphere. One employee in Omaha, Nebraska, described commuting on the bus while being buffeted by political disagreements. All she could think was: “I can’t wait to get to work.”
Offices Can Be Bastions of Civility in an Uncivil Time
Make your company a refuge from divisiveness.
July 14, 2017
Summary.
Many Americans believe incivility in the country has risen to crisis levels. Companies today have the capacity to be a haven from the incivility that individuals confront every day, on the road, online, in the media, and in politics. The workplace is where employees with diverse backgrounds and opinions can come together to pursue shared objectives unencumbered by the divides and tensions that exist elsewhere. How should companies go about creating a work environment that makes employees feel safe? For starters, they must lead by example, open up opportunities for discussion and communicate policies and rules around civility at work.
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New!
HBR Learning
Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Course
Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
How to build a better, more just workplace.