Poisonous work environments can cripple organizations. They can damage morale, injure productivity and erode your bottom line. Employee turnover caused by toxic culture cost employers more than $223 billion over the past five years, according to a recent study by the Society for Human Resource Management.
This SmartBrief on Workforce Special Report offers a roundup of stories aimed at helping to build healthy workplace environments. We spotlight best practices on nurturing respectful dialog (even talking politics at work!), training leaders, identifying toxic employees and managing worker complaints. We also look at technologies that can eliminate hiring bias and give employees discreet ways to report misconduct.
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Be the change. Become a culture influencer. Build bridges and close gaps to not only increase retention rates, but also strengthen leadership, build trust, and attract more superstars. Demonstrate your expertise with SHRM's newest Specialty Credential, Inclusive Workplace Culture. Begin your Specialty Credential journey today.
Political differences -- such as racial and gender differences -- are important to understand as they can affect an organization's culture, according to Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., CEO of the Society for Human Resource Management. Taylor says employers should treat politics like an area of diversity and inclusion and bring in experts who can teach leaders how to manage tricky situations properly.
Really listening to one another may not immediately solve problems, but it allows a dialogue to begin that may move each side toward a better understanding of the issues, writes executive coach John Baldoni. Practicing deep listening "strengthens a culture because it enables people to have a voice in their future ... as well as an ear to other voices," he writes.
Poor management leads to poor culture, but managers can only perform as well as they've been trained, says Sean Sullivan, chief HR officer at the Society for Human Resource Management. Employers must invest in training managers, so managers can feel confident when letting workers know what is -- and what is not -- working, Sullivan says.
Be the Change. "The level of toxicity in the workplace is at an all-time high." – Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., SHRM president and CEO. We are living in a world where nearly half of all Americans have considered quitting their jobs—due to a toxic, unhealthy workplace. Be the Change. Become a culture influencer.
People who witness harassment at work often are reluctant to speak up, writes Lindsay Dodgson, who cites research by Spot, a company that develops technology aimed at reporting misconduct in the workplace. Dodgson tells the story of Sergaya Krantz, a woman who says she was bullied at her former workplace and that others who witnessed the abuse refused to come to her aid.
Foster a Workplace of Inclusion. 'Toxic' is no longer just a pop song; it could be your workplace. Over the past 5 years, toxic workplaces have been the driving reason 20% of U.S. employees have left their jobs. And the cost to organizations? Astronomical at $223 billion.
Employers must investigate harassment complaints, but they are not obligated to fire people, even when complaints are determined to be valid, attorney Jon Hyman writes. Hyman describes a real-world harassment case to illustrate the steps employers must take when navigating these situations.
