I have worked in HR for over 28 years and have had to terminate many employees. This was not an easy task – I feared that the employee may have been so upset that they wanted to hurt me. To some, this may seem like an irrational fear. However, we often hear news stories of disgruntled ex-employees hurting or killing past supervisors and coworkers, and I wondered if this could have somehow been avoided. We usually don’t get to hear the whole story, and don’t know why the employee was terminated or what their mental condition was. These factors are out of a supervisor’s hands, but by treating employees with respect, possible violence can be avoided. I have always prided myself in treating others with compassion, even in situations where an employee has displayed bad behavior and deserves to be terminated. I have compiled a list of rules that help me to increase respect for employees and that can be implemented in any workplace.
- Spell out the rules in advance. Make sure employees clearly know what the rules and expectations are in the company. Policy manuals, job descriptions, and job expectations need to be provided and explained from day one.
- Provide regular feedback. Address issues as they happen – if people are not meeting expectations or not following the rules, this behavior needs to be corrected immediately. But, be sure to give both positive and constructive feedback.
- Show sincere interest in your employee. A sincere interest in your employees’ well-being conveys your respect for them, both on and off the job. A simple question about how a child is doing in school or a comment about a favorite team only takes seconds but leaves a lasting impression. When you’re habitually kind about everyday matters, you’ll be kind about work-related issues, too.
- Focus on what you say and how you say it. The words you choose are only one part of communication. Focus on tone and body language. Practice in front of the mirror or with friends and family who will tell you how you come across. Also, don’t send emails to deliver important information, as the tone can easily be misinterpreted.
- Don’t attack. People make mistakes and have bad days, but most people are not bad. Focus on the issue at hand and don’t attack people personally. If you are angry, wait until you are calm to address the employee.
Everyone deserves to be treated with respect, no matter the situation. Treating employees with respect is not only the right thing to do but can also help to prevent future violence and lawsuits.