October 18 was Persons Day in Canada. It marks the date when women were recognized as persons under Canadian law.

A lot has changed for Canadian and American women in the past eighty years. Our rights and our ability to access those rights have increased. The question is, have our workplaces adjusted to reflect those changes?

According to the recently released Shriver Report, the answer to that question is a resounding no. The report, authored by First Lady of California Maria Shriver and the Center for American Progress, documents the fact that in 2009, for the first time in history, women will make up half of all U.S. workers. Mothers are the primary breadwinners or co-breadwinners in nearly two-thirds of American families. And that, states the report, creates a “woman’s nation that changes everything”.

(more…)

Here are some recent news items you may have missed concerning respectful workplaces:

>> Office Etiquette Matters in Close Quarters
>> Healthy Minds, Happy Workers
>> Bosses Who Feel Inadequate Are More Likely To Bully
>> How New ADA Regs Will Affect Your Hiring
>> House to Hire ‘Diversity Consultant’

When I moved from working in the theatre to working in an office, I was astounded by the difference in attitudes and norms. My new organization and the workplaces of my clients seemed filled with unhappiness and dysfunction. Could I use my theatre training to help transform the malaise I saw everywhere?

While my clients constantly sought to improve their competitive advantage, I was amazed to see that they often ignored the most glaring personnel challenges. Companies were spending thousands of dollars streamlining their processes through Six Sigma or Lean programs. They analyzed their shop floor data and hunted for the slightest area to refine. But the most vital data—the continuous signals coming from their staff—was often ignored.

At her desk, Jayne scowls. Her co-workers may gossip, “That’s just Jayne.” But why is she scowling? What message is Jayne sending (or trying to hide)?

(more…)

In the classic Aretha Franklin song, “R-E-S-P-E-C-T - Find out what it means to me” is a famously quoted line. In real life, however, respect has different meanings to different people. For instance, when we talk about respect in our workplace seminars, we ask participants to describe a time when they felt respected - felt being the significant word here.

Not only is it important to visualize what respect looks like, but also what it feels like. Most participants will relay a story about a time when someone asked them for input, expressed an interest in their work, publicly praised them, etc. Then when they talk about how they felt after these incidents occurred, participants usually use words like valued, supported or even trusted.

So why is this essential? Because when the brain processes positive emotions created from respectful behaviors, it actually increases our mood, which can lead to higher productivity. My question for all of you is:

What does respect mean to you?

We want to publish your stories here. So think back to a time when you felt respected in the workplace. Write a detailed description of 500 words or less and each month we’ll feature a new story. Send your stories to:

respectfulworkplace [at] contactcrazy [dot] com

Here are some recent news items you may have missed concerning respectful workplaces:

>> Why employees should be shown more respect
>> How to make diversity part of the IT culture
>> University of Richmond policies help stop workplace violence
>> Face time with boss can help during downturn
>> “Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act” bill introduced