Inappropriate behaviour poisons the work environment

Inappropriate behaviour in the workplace is a serious issue that can poison the work environment and harm employee performance. It manifests in various forms, including bullying and harassment, sexual harassment, racism, and discrimination.

An example of bullying and harassment in the workplace could be a colleague consistently making negative comments about another's work, leading to a hostile work environment and diminished confidence in the victim.

Sexual harassment may involve unwanted sexual comments, touches, or advances, disrupting the professional environment and causing embarrassment to employees.

Racism and discrimination are also common forms of inappropriate behaviour in the workplace. An example could be systematically bypassing qualified employees for promotions or opportunities based solely on race or ethnicity.

As an organisation, it's crucial to address the issue of inappropriate behaviour. This can be tackled in various ways, such as organising workshops, using gamification to increase awareness, and guiding leaders to initiate discussions within their teams.

The organisation and its leaders need to be open to employee feedback and take it seriously. It's essential not to judge but rather be curious about the reasons behind the behaviour and be willing to find solutions to make the work environment safer and more inclusive.

Dismissal of complaints as 'that's just how we do things,' 'I don't see this as a problem,' or 'you shouldn't complain, it was just a joke' is counterproductive and only reinforces the issues. As an organisation, it's vital to promote a culture that values respect, equality, and diversity and actively addresses inappropriate behaviour. How? By collectively establishing norms for desired behaviour and addressing inappropriate behaviour promptly.