3. What NOT to do…
Key Points:
This is a satirical TV Show.
An ethical and respectful company shouldn’t need a “Do Not Mock” list.
What Michael thinks is funny, others find offensive.
Bullying, fat shaming, homophobia, catty comments, etc.
8. Consideration
What impression would your new coworker have of his crew?
Your new coworker is very close with his sister who
happens to have Downs Syndrome.
What you didn’t know…
How might your new coworker feel about the company?
9. Consideration
Become more aware of differences.
Prevention…
#1
#2 Think before you speak.
#3 Increase your vocabulary.
Instead of “retarded”
you could have used:
Ridiculous, dumb,
stupid, unbelievable,
outrageous, ludicrous,
etc…
The Office is one of the best tools you can use to determine what is and what isn’t appropriate for a work environment. If it happens on the show, there is a very good chance that it should not happen at Tar Heel Basement Systems.
Here are the basics. We are growing as a company, we are hiring new people and we are expanding into new customer groups and demographics. These are all good things – amazing things! Success is sure to follow. Having said that, success and job satisfaction will also depend on the different ways you adapt to these changes.
It is important to remember that each and every new “stranger” that you meet (manager, coworker or customer) has their own story, background, experiences and beliefs. As long as we are aware that these differences exist and we alter our language and behavior accordingly we can create respectful interactions and conversations.
Being “aware” includes knowing who is around you, physically, and also just remembering that differences do exist.
Simply “look before you speak”.
When you’re in a kindergarten class room, you won’t be using foul language. When you’re out to eat at a nice restaurant, you won’t be farting at the table.
When you’re on a jobsite, you don’t bash our competitors, complain about your work or use potentially offensive language. You get the idea.
The best way to do this at work is to imagine your grandmother is always standing right behind you.
Awareness is just the beginning of creating a more respectful work environment. After becoming aware of possible differences, make a genuine effort to consider these differences and alter your speech or behavior. Here is an example of how careless language can lead to a very unfortunate situation:
In this instance, you were not aware, you were not considerate or forgot about both. As it turns out, your new coworker has a sister with Downs Syndrome, a genetic condition that results in mental retardation – or as it is correctly termed now: intellectual disabilities.
How might this new installer feel about their crew or their company? After that comment, there is a very good chance that he now has a very bad taste in his mouth. This will affect his work ethic, his job satisfaction, his relationship with his coworkers among other things.
To prevent this awkward and uncomfortable situation, there 3 simple steps you can take.
First, become more aware of the world around you.
ANYBODY you meet could have a close relative with a learning disability, they could be gay, they could have a mental illness, they could be Jewish– You’d never know!
Phrases such as “I’m so OCD” or “grammar Nazi” or “That’s gay” could very easily make somebody uncomfortable enough to either leave the company, choose against us or pursue legal action.
Don’t assume everyone around you thinks the same way you do or finds the same things funny.
Before attempting to describe something that is bad, stupid or ridiculous reconsider your language options.
There is a book-turned-website dedicated to giving you more than one word for the same linguistic purpose.
Now I’m not asking you to become best friends with everyone you meet. That’s a bit unrealistic. I would also never ask you to change your opinions or beliefs – if we all thought the same way, life would be ridiculously boring and the company would find itself stagnate. Lastly, I am definitely NOT asking you to stop joking around and having fun at work. We are all adults and have the ability to conduct ourselves in a way our grandmothers would be proud of. If you feel like I have deemed myself the language police, I assure you I have not. If you think this is overkill and that people are “too easily offended” that is not something any of us have control over. We do, however, have control over our language. What is the cost of consideration? What do we gain from being careless with our language?
I am, however, asking you act with maturity, respect your coworkers, managers and customers and to think before you speak.
If you want to be vulgar and offensive off the clock, you are 100% free to do so. When you are at work, though, remember to be aware, considerate and respectful. If not for your own ethical reasons, do it to prevent a lawsuit, a bad customer review or a demerit. When we pair company growth with mindful and respectful employees, success is almost guaranteed.
