Workplace Connection Part 2: “Everyone Wants to be Treated Well”

Drs. Caroline Gerin-Lajoie & Kerri Ritchie

In an ideal workplace, everyone would treat each other with respect and courtesy. As human beings, we want to be treated well. Most of us, would never want to intentionally disrespect, hurt, or insult a colleague, co-worker, patient, family, or friend. Yet, in the "real" world, filled with people, that isn't always our experience. As people we do hurt one another. Sometimes we do so unintentionally e.g. microaggressions, slights, biases. We can also hurt people when we feel hurt, are tired, under pressure, feel that we have nothing left, or we are not feeling validated or acknowledged.

Over the last few years, there have been increasing external pressures of different types affecting all of us. Stress can come out as feeling anxious, impatient, irritable, or angry. When your "glass of stress" is full, it can start to overflow. Interpersonally, our behaviours towards others can change. We can start using the "us" and "them" mentality. Our perspective can become more focused on our own needs, and the needs of those we have chosen to put in our "bubble". We can start to forget that everyone else has their own story and background that they carry with them. They have their own stressors and realities. Intersectionality and positionality means that some individuals, particularly, individuals from systemically marginalized groups, are more at risk of being on the receiving end of judgement, microaggression, and discrimination. All of these factors influence the overall level incivility in the workplace and in our communities.

Small actions lead to change

Workplace connections are important (Workplace Connections Part 1). We can all have moments when we lose our compassion, are unkind, and are uncivil. Maybe in the moment it feels justified. Yet, this disconnects us from ourselves and each other, ultimately, negatively impacting us all. Every small interaction between people, whether co-workers, leaders, patients, or family members, and friends can make a big difference in the way we feel, connect, work, and care. The sum of all of these interactions is what creates the overall culture of the workplace and workspace. Knowing that we will all misstep, what is important, and perhaps realistic, is catching it and learning from it. We need to make amends, acknowledge, apologize, and perhaps gain a new perspective.