Did you know that Random Acts of Kindness Week officially kicked off on Monday? This annual event, sponsored by the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, is intended to inspire kindness with a “pay it forward” mentality. In today’s society, and especially workplace culture, kindness, it seems, has fallen by the way side. People simply believe they don’t have the time, money, or energy to extend even a small amount of kindness, but times like these are exactly when we need a friendly smile or an unsolicited compliment the most.

Studies have shown that the effects of kindness not only make you feel good but also improve your mental and physical health. In 1991 Allan Luks, former executive director of the Institute for the Advancement of Health and executive director of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of New York City, conducted a study of several thousand volunteers located around the country to understand what their emotional state was like after they helped someone else. He determined that helping others and performing acts of kindness improved the overall health of study participants, even lowering stress.

So what are the workplace implications of Luks’s results? Well obviously we are living through some extremely difficult and stressful economic times, so if an act of kindness can help, even in some small way, wouldn’t you want to try it? And wouldn’t you want to try it in the workplace, which may well be the most stressful environment you are exposed to on a daily basis?

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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

Did you know the rate of suicides in the military is rising significantly? According to a recent article on the subject:

“The Army, with 128 suicides last year, already has 79 so far this year. The Navy had 41 last year and 28 this year. The Marines have 34, seven shy of last year, and the Air Force has recorded half its 40 suicides of 2008.”

So what can be attributed to the increase in suicides in all branches of the military? Various causes of course, but recently Private Keiffer Wilhelm, an Ohio soldier, took his own life after allegedly being bullied by his superiors.

In a workplace culture built on discipline and strict obedience to train new recruits, the military is a unique institution. But what happens when “discipline” goes too far or becomes bullying and harassment? When does troop control turn into abuse?

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Did you know August is “Win with Civility” month? Well, neither did I until I stumbled on this informative blog post on the importance of workplace civility initiatives.

Apparently civility, like respect in the workplace or lack of it, is a hot issue nowadays. Recently, while listening to the morning show of a local radio station, my ears perked up when the announcers asked listeners what their biggest pet peeves of co-workers were.  The phone lines were ablaze with listeners calling in to tell tales of co-workers gone awry. Everything from fellow employees clipping fingernails in the office and leaving them in common areas to the more obvious gossipers and backstabbers were mentioned.

But what about those co-workers who are actually respectful and civil at work? I think they should get as much or even more air time than those behaving badly, so I did a little online sleuthing and found the following resources for celebrating civility.

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I realize it has not even been a year since we here in the US elected the first African-American president and that change is slow. But the recent incident at the Hunt Valley Swim Club in suburban Philadelphia  makes me wonder if we are making progress at all. Earlier this year, I questioned the future of diversity training, but now I see that we still have a long way to go in resolving race relations.

This incident at the Hunt Valley Swim Club is the latest to spark a race-related debate. Earlier this month the club rescinded the invitation as well as refunded the money of an inner city summer camp prohibiting them from swimming at the pool for the remainder of the summer. Many of the children from the camp are African American or Latino.

Although the club has denied this was a case of racism, insisting instead, it was a space issue in the pool, the comments made on television by John Duesler the swim club president seem to prove otherwise:

“There is a lot of concern that a lot of kids would change the complexion . . . and the atmosphere of the club.”

Whether you think this was an act of racism, as the camp alleges or not, as the swim club asserts, I hope we can all appreciate the wisdom and insight spoken from one of the kids involved:

“I didn’t understand because we’re all the same. We’re just a different color,” said 9-year-old camper Kevina Day Morris.