Respecting everyone
A respectful workforce is inclusive of everyone’s:
- background
- role
- status
Respectful workforces do not tolerate bullying or harassment. They:
- value everyone’s views and contributions
- invite collaboration
- communicate well – for example, openly sharing information and updates
- build trusting relationships between colleagues
How respect benefits your organisation
According to research by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), promoting inclusivity and respect throughout your workforce can:
- improve innovation and creativity – for example, by creating safer spaces to share ideas
- increase retention – by making workers feel like part of the organisation
- enhance your organisation’s reputation
- increase engagement with the wider community
- make your workers feel safe, valued and always included
- maximise your recruitment pool
Example
Advanced Clothing Solutions (ACS) have used Fair Work principles to accommodate marginalised groups in their recruitment processes.
“We recruit from the community, ex-offenders, young people, refugees and are a proud Disability Confident Leader. Including people from our communities has made us more profitable, efficient, and responsive.” Anthony Burns, Chief Operating Officer, ACS
Encouraging respect in your organisation
You can champion respect, diversity and inclusion within your business by making sure the application process is inclusive and accessible. For example, do not ask for unnecessary qualifications for a role.
You can also:
- encourage applications from marginalised groups
- introduce policies that make respect and inclusion mandatory – for example, anti-bullying and harassment policies
- provide spaces for your workers to have a say – for example, regular check-ins with managers
- create opportunities for workers to share ideas, challenges and successes with their teams
- prioritise a culture where everyone is respected and included
Find out more about the benefits of workplace respect on the CIPD website.
Employer resources for promoting respect
Find out about recruiting inclusively through the CIPD.
Learn about preventing discrimination and valuing inclusivity on Business Gateway.
Learn about avoiding discrimination in the workplace on CIPD.
Find out about protected characteristics through ACAS.