“Good morning ma’am. I’m here to give you these documents”. Said Ella.
“What is good about this morning? We don’t need to exchange greetings whenever we meet. Just do what you came in to do and leave,” the VP of GTech Company replied.
The above conversation is a real-life incident that still leaves me wondering about the kind of culture that is being encouraged in many organizations today.
That employee left the room feeling dejected and withdrawn. The story goes that everyone in the company, including the CEO, fears the VP.
It’s okay to be tough and sophisticated, but it’s not okay to treat people with disdain and disrespect. It certainly doesn’t matter your position within an organization; your employees are your internal customers and, by extension, your team members. They deserve to be treated with professionalism and respect.
Statistics show that employee job satisfaction is 63% higher among those who believe their supervisors treat them with respect. Also, according to Hazard Business Review, respected employees are happier and more devoted to their companies. There are several benefits of treating employees with respect, and we can never exhaust them in one article. Here are some ways to go about this.
1. Fair Treatment: This is top on my list because I know it resonates with virtually everyone. The litmus test for this is: Do unto others as you would have them do to you. As an employer, ensure that all employees have equal access to opportunities for growth and advancement. Start from the basics, such as implementing fair hiring practices, unbiased performance reviews, and transparent promotion criteria.
Another way to ensure fair treatment is to say no to reprisals, especially when an employee is innocent. I once faced segregation and discrimination with my previous manager because I voiced out the concerns of my team members and innocently gave them feedback about the wrong process of communication with adversely affected employees.
2. Recognition and Appreciation: I always suggest private and public appreciation. This ensures that the leader is not simply praising the employee publicly out of eye-service, but they are genuinely doing so even when no one is watching.
Celebrate employees’ successes publicly in team meetings, newsletters, or company events. Also, remember that a simple thank-you note or a personal acknowledgment from a manager can go a long way in making employees feel appreciated.
3. Clear Communication: Encourage an open-door policy where employees feel comfortable approaching management with questions, concerns, or feedback. This fosters an environment of openness and trust and also reduces unnecessary gossip and tension in the workplace.
Hold regular meetings and send out newsletters or emails to keep employees informed about company news, changes, and future plans. Transparency helps build trust.
Overall, creating a respectful and professional workplace is essential for employee satisfaction and productivity.
References
Do your employees feel respected? Harvard Business Review. (2018, June 21). https://hbr.org/2018/07/do-your-employees-feel-respected
36 statistics on the importance of employee engagement. LORMAN Education Services. (n.d.). https://www.lorman.com/blog/post/36-statistics-on-the-importance-of-employee-engagement