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A new employee may receive an Employee’s handbook, which generally contains information about work schedules, leave policies, safety and security, employee benefits, compensation, anti-discrimination policies, and general employment information. These are very important, however, is incivility or bullying addressed in your company employee handbook?
While bullying is not illegal according to employment law and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, it has a negative rippling effect on many people in the workforce. The victim of workplace incivility may turn to suicide, substance abuse, or taking leave to avoid the workplace. Also, incivility may cause a decrease in work production, morale, and an exit out the company door to find a better job!
It’s essential to address how to handle workplace bullying in the handbook. Procedures implemented on how to address incivility and how the Human Resources department or management will treat it are vital to a company’s work culture. Employers who let their employees know they want to hear about bullying in the workplace are encouraging a positive engagement of civility. The administration must show its leadership skills by not retaliating if they are the source of incivility. If it’s an employee harassing another employee—it can be addressed with proper training and documenting of the matter. Employees want to work in a civil and respectful environment. This behavior must come from the management of a company.
Employees are generally checking out how their management responds to incidents of harassment. They wonder if it will be swept under the carpet or addressed head-on. Work production and creativity increase when an employee feels heard and valued.
When a bystander notices a bullying situation, they must feel empowered to address the matter to their management or Human Resources. If they are fearful of retaliation or not being heard, they will never speak up. Authentic leadership is managing the job and taking care of the people. For more articles on respectful work environments, check out https://goodmenproject.com/author/consultwithdawngmail-com
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