Importance of a dignified work environment
Tackling Bullying, Harassment and Discrimination (BHD) in an
organization
Importance of a dignified work environment
17th December 2023
Blog eight of Eight - by Dilshad Banu Mohideen
What is workplace dignity?
“When we talk
about birthright, we talk about the right of opportunity, the right of
opportunity to succeed or fail on individual talents, developed unfettered by
man-made barriers. This is what gives [a person their] dignity.”
—Robert F. Kennedy, Carrollton, GA, May 26, 1964
Who creates a dignified work environment? Is it the leaders or is
it the HR? Well, in my opinion, it is the responsibility of everyone in the organization
to respect each other.
A dignity focused organization recognizes the importance of
treating its employees and inspires its employees to treat each other in a way
that honours their value and worth and their role in the organization.
Why dignity?
When the dignity of every employee is safeguarded, employee engagement and retention is strengthened, well-being of the employee is fostered, equity is achieved, and the workplace truly thrives. This is the outcome that every organization should aim for business success.
“Some principles really are universal—and the most important
one is the principle that we are bound together by a common humanity and that
each individual has inherent dignity and worth.”
Dignity complacent workplace initiatives
A
dignity-focused organization honours its workers with its policies, practices,
systems and structures, as well as through the actions its managers take on a
day-to-day basis. It establishes a common understanding of values that creates
a context for organizational decisions. Without such dignity consciousness,
actions intended to enhance the employee wellbeing may fail to affirm dignity
and may even disrupt operations. Honouring dignity includes, though is not
limited to, a range of workplace practices that drive healthy workplace
culture.
Diversity
Honoring diversity in an organization is about respecting
difference (race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, educational path,
socioeconomic background, life experience, etc.) and supporting and accepting the
individual identity. The dignity-conscious organization strives to increase its
diversity, valuing the greater problem-solving capability that a broad range of
perspective brings. By embracing diversity and fostering an inclusive
environment, organizations can reap significant benefits for their employees and
society as a whole.
Remember,
diversity is not just a good thing to do, it's a smart business decision.
Inclusion and Belonging
Equity
Equity is about fairness and impartiality. It is about giving
people what they need to succeed and recognizing that. Equity in an
organization goes beyond simply having a diverse workforce but focuses on
ensuring fairness, justice, and access to opportunities for all individuals
regardless of their background, identity, or any other personal characteristic.
Most importantly, equity is not just about treating everyone the
same. It is about recognizing and
addressing existing inequalities and providing everyone with the resources and
opportunities they need to succeed. By actively working towards equity,
organizations can create a fair, productive, and fulfilling workplace for
everyone.
Psychological Safety
This is an important aspect which
is spoken less aloud. A work environment in which one can speak up to share
ideas, questions, concerns, or failures without feeling humiliated is considered
psychologically safe. Members of safe teams are less likely to hide mistakes
because they know they will not be shamed for them and will still be valued.
Managers can play a major role by encouraging the open expression of ideas and
thoughts. Psychological safety helps unlock the potential of diverse teams.
Growth Mindset
A growth mindset in an
organization is the conviction that talent can be developed, and skills can be
learned. Organizations that exhibit this mindset encourage employees to pursue
learning, embrace challenges, and develop new skills. A growth mindset honours
dignity by recognizing employees’ value to the organization as potential and
evolving.
Upholding dignity in organizations
A dignified
workforce ensures that employees are treated with respect, fairness, and
professionalism. Dignity at work starts with a workplace culture that values
diversity and inclusivity, provides equal opportunities for all employees, and
one that promotes a safe and healthy working environment free from
discrimination, harassment, and abuse. Everyone has a right to feel valued and
respected while at work - but it is both the employer’s and employee’s
responsibility to ensure dignity is always maintained.
Employer’s Responsibilities
- Create and impose a zero-tolerance policy for bullying,
harassment, and discrimination in the workplace,
- Provide training and workshops on topics which includes
diversity and inclusion, respectful communication, and conflict resolution
to employees periodically,
- Investigate and address any complaints of inappropriate
behaviour in a prompt, sensitive and confidential manner and ensure serious
disciplinary action is taken across all levels.
- Ensure a safe and healthy working environment to all employees,
- Hold managers accountable for maintaining a culture of dignity
at workplace.
·
HR should implement initiatives like employee resource groups,
cultural celebrations, and accessibility measures to create a welcoming and
inclusive environment for everyone.
· Making data-driven decisions and using feedback from employees to continually improve diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts within the organization.
Employee’s Responsibilities
- Treating subordinates, customers, and stakeholders with
respect and professionalism.
·
Embrace diversity and differences by taking the time to learn
about and appreciate your colleagues' cultures, experiences, and viewpoints.
·
Refrain from behaviours that could be regarded as bullying,
harassment, or discrimination, including derogatory comments and gestures,
·
Awareness of behaviours that could be perceived as inappropriate
or offensive.
·
Intervene and speak up if you witness disrespectful behaviour.
This could involve reporting harassment or discrimination, interrupting
offensive jokes, or simply advocating for someone being treated unfairly.
·
Participate in training and educational programs that promote
workplace dignity.
·
Contribute to a positive and inclusive workplace culture by
supporting and respecting others.
·
Communicate clearly and openly, avoiding gossip and negativity.
Focus on professional and constructive communication, even when expressing
disagreements.
Upholding dignity
at work is an ongoing process that requires commitment from everyone in the
organization. By implementing these practices and fostering a culture of
respect, we can create a workplace where everyone feels valued, engaged, and
able to reach their full potential.
This is my last
blog in this series and I trust that I was able to shed some light on this
subject to make you reflect on your contribution towards a dignified
environment in your organization. As leaders we need to raise awareness on this
topic as each of us have a duty to safeguard interests of all our subordinates.
I welcome your comments
and feedback. 😊.
References:
·
Tiwari,
A. and Sharma, R.R. (2019). Dignity at the Workplace: Evolution of the
Construct and Development of Workplace Dignity Scale. Frontiers in
Psychology, 10. doi:https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02581. Accessed on 10th December 2023
·
www.dignitytogether.org.
(n.d.). We have a fundamental right to dignity at work. [online]
Available at: https://www.dignitytogether.org/blog/we-have-a-fundamental-right-to-dignity-at-work. Accessed on 15th December 2023
· Leading Effectively Staff (2022). 5 Powerful Ways to Take REAL Action on DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion). [online] Center for Creative Leadership. Available at: https://www.ccl.org/articles/leading-effectively-articles/5-powerful-ways-to-take-real-action-on-dei-diversity-equity-inclusion/. Accessed on the 16th December 2023
·
Online,
S.B.U. (2022). Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Why it Matters.
[online] online.sbu.edu. Available at: https://online.sbu.edu/news/why-dei-matters. Accessed on 16th December 2023
You are absolutely right. Each of us as employees regardless of differences in race, religion, gender, age, education, status and designations should be respected and supported. While everyone should start to respect each other as your blog states, someone at the top should set an example in which followers will ensue. In addition, the organization should have sound human resources policies which is transparent. This will foster a culture of respect and there will be trust created. This will enable the organization to perform and retain the employees because they know that they will be valued.
ReplyDeleteThank you Jasothan. You summarized my blog well and as you mentioned Employer's efforts to create a dignified work environment will definitely benefit everyone in the organization.
DeleteAs you mention it is the responsibility of everyone in the organization to respect each other. Agreed. I think it is a very important piece in our nation's development as well. Workplace dignity is the heart of so many challenges in the workplace. No matter the position of the employees, a respectful environment reduces stress, increases productivity, , improves employee satisfaction. I agree with your points.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you. Upholding dignity at work is crucial for creating a positive and productive work environment. As mentioned in the Harvard Business Review, treating employees with dignity and respect can lead to better performance, higher job satisfaction, and increased loyalty . It is important to establish a culture of respect and inclusion in the workplace, where everyone feels valued and heard (Valcour,2014).
ReplyDeletehttps://hbr.org/2014/04/the-power-of-dignity-in-the-workplace
Respect is key. Absolutely correct. irrespective of the position or the designation, every employee must be treated equally. But when considering the equality, do you think this concept demoralize or demotivate the existing employees to improve or promote themselves? or should the equality go along with the cultural factor? I mean, shouldn't the extra achievements be compensated in treating your employees or should that be limited to the payment of an incentive?
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are probably some of the most over used phrases in today's context. While many companies may say they include DEI into their cultural gene, most are unable to follow through on executing it right within the organization culture. The right to be respected, valued and included seems like an integral part of creating a positive work culture and I agree with you on this.
ReplyDeleteAgreed and a great topic , Many organizations has turned a blind eye towards BHD's , This usually occurs to the lower parts of organizational structure , which usually leads to higher employee turnover , employee dissatisfaction , which impacts on overall performance of the organization and is the responsibility of the management is to create better work environment or become listeners such grievances .
ReplyDeleteHi Very interesting topic to discuss. As you correctly mentioned it is employer's responsibility to make safe and healthy environment to every employee and also to respect every employee who is holding any position inside the organization. Thank you for sharing these information
ReplyDelete