The following are principles that I believe to be the cornerstones of a positive workplace environment, no matter what type of business you have, stated in a biblical format.
Thou shalt not…..
1. lie to your employees…..why should they then believe you when you tell the truth?
2. discriminate on the basis of race, gender, religion, national origin, etc.
3. take your employees for granted.
4. treat your employees like mushrooms (i.e. keep them in the dark).
5. harbor a workplace environment that is intimidating, hostile, or abusive.
Thou shalt…..
6. treat your employees as you expect them to treat you and the organization…..with respect, honesty, professionalism, ethical behavior. Show them that you recognize and appreciate their contributions to the organization.
7. be inclusive rather than exclusive….strive to bring your team together versus promoting an environment of every person for themselves.
8. maintain open lines of communication between management and non-management and encourage employees to come forward with employment-related concerns. Give your employees frequent and meaningful feedback.
9. recognize that employees have a personal life outside the workplace.
10. provide opportunities for personal growth and development….foster an environment that encourages everyone to strive to reach their potential while stressing the importance of working as a team.
There are undoubtedly other principles that could be listed here, and we can differ on the importance of each; these are not carved in stone (pun intended). However, I think this is a good place to start.
The main responsibility of the Human Resource function is to support the management team in adhering to these principles in the workplace. It is easy to get caught up in the need to satisfy customers, clients, shareholders, funders, etc. and lose sight of the needs of your employees. You can’t meet the needs of the former without the commitment of the latter, which can be achieved through these principles.
