Should you command respect at work? Of course you should. Should your valued employees expect respect? Of course they should. But what about poor performing, soon-to-be former employees?
As Misti Mukherjee, Partner for Jackson Lewis LLP pointed out on Sept. 19th at the Dulles SHRM chapter meeting on Powerful Management Training: How it Impacts the Bottom Line, lawsuits are most often driven by emotions. For an employee, being terminated or laid off from a job can be crushing. But being humiliated and disrespected in the process? Watch out!
Many angry, disrespected, terminated employees go running to the nearest attorney’s office. What company wants to deal with a wrongful termination lawsuit? The cost of litigation far exceeds the cost of coaching supervisors to treat everyone with dignity and respect!
Lawsuits aside, let’s not forget about treating employees with respect just for the sake of human kindness. Do you listen to what co-workers and subordinates have to say? Do you show interest in them and their opinions? Do you provide constructive feedback in a positive manner?
So what can companies do to promote respect? Start at the top, make it a company value, provide in-house or outsourced training to name a few. Commit to respect for everyone, including clients, vendors, employees, employee family members, and just as importantly, poor performing, soon-to-be terminated former employees. If not, you’ll wish you did!
Laurie Smith, HR Consultant, HR Advisors Group
