More than just appropriate attire, punctual arrivals or high quality work standards, professionalism in the workplace is also demonstrated through effective employer and employee communication, collaboration and interaction.
For a professional and healthy workplace culture, it’s crucial that employees and employers consistently respect each other and effectively manage conflict. Professionalism sets the stage for all workplace interactions and can contribute to the reduction of workplace misconduct like harassment and discrimination – making it vital for organizations to embrace workplace professionalism and civility.
Professionalism, Civility and the Employer-Employee Relationship
When professionalism and civility are prioritized, the employer-employee relationship thrives, creating a cohesive and productive environment. Professional behavior allows employees to stay on task and motivated, while civility and politeness encourage productivity, considering 69% of employees work harder when they feel appreciated. According to Forbes, a great relationship amongst leadership and their employees can boost employee self-confidence skills and allow them to feel like they are a part of “a circle of trust.” Employer-employee relationships can also improve engagement, decrease turnover and improve trust and respect.
The Wall Street Journal mentions that the employer-employee relationship is “more important to engagement than where people work,” and it can be achieved through meaningful conversations and interactions. By strengthening interpersonal relationships, organizations can improve efficiency and innovation, and employees can develop a “can-do” attitude – creating a cohesive team.
Professionalism and Workplace Misconduct
By upholding high standards of civility and professionalism, employers set the tone for the organization and can help prevent misconduct. While professionalism sets the expectations for employers and employees, it’s also important that relevant solutions and resources are leveraged to ensure a civil and healthy workplace is maintained.
Workplace misconduct, like harassment and discrimination, poses a significant risk to organizations. While a professional environment can support a healthy work environment, it does not ultimately protect an organization from the financial, reputational and organizational risks of a toxic workplace. Organizations require solutions that will ensure incidents are reported, investigated and resolved in a swift and effective manner.
Through Work Shield’s third-party incident management platform, organizations can provide employees with multiple channels to safely report incidents, while giving employers the peace of mind that incidents will be handled. With Work Shield, employees have 24/7 access to report incidents, which are then investigated in a timely manner to prevent further unrest within the organization and ensure that employees are heard. In addition, employers have visibility through their personal real-time data and analytics dashboard to understand trends in their workplace culture and streamline resources to effectively improve the cultural health of the organization.
While professionalism and civility are important in any workplace, they are not enough to ensure a healthy and productive workplace. In order to protect their employees and their organization, employers must utilize solutions like Work Shield to mitigate risks and protect their people and culture.
Learn more about Work Shield’s third-party misconduct solution here.
