Promoting Respect at Work: 5 Simple Ways to Build a More Respectful Workplace
Promoting a culture of respect in the workplace helps Canadian companies foster stronger team dynamics while protecting their productivity and profitability.
Key Takeaways
- A respectful workplace is essential for mental health, collaboration, and team performance.
- Canadian employers have a legal obligation to prevent workplace harassment and promote respect.
- The REACT plan helps address issues effectively with five simple actions.
- A respectful work environment reduces turnover and improves team morale.
A lack of respect at work is more common than you might think. Whether it’s cutting someone off mid-sentence, condescending remarks, being ignored, or taking credit for someone else’s work, these behaviours slowly corrode trust, motivation, and performance.
According to a Léger survey, over 40% of Canadians reported witnessing or experiencing a lack of respect in the workplace.
Creating a respectful workplace is not just a nice-to-have. It’s essential. It drives better employee engagement, stronger collaboration, and healthier teams. It also helps avoid costly issues like absenteeism, high turnover, and internal conflict.
What Does a Lack of Respect at Work Look Like?
A lack of respect in the workplace can be subtle or obvious. At its core, this behaviour undermines trust, collaboration, and psychological safety.
👉 Even well-intentioned managers may struggle to recognize when it is time to intervene.
Common Examples of a Lack of Respect at Work
- Interrupting a coworker when they speak
- Dismissing someone’s suggestions in front of others
- Using a sarcastic or condescending tone
- Ignoring important messages or shift notes
- Taking credit for another person’s work
- Making inappropriate jokes
- Messaging someone during their PTO for non-urgent matters
- Correcting or criticizing someone publicly
- Rolling eyes or showing disapproval non-verbally
- Leaving certain team members out of social interactions
Why a Lack of Respect at Work Is So Harmful
Even small signs of disrespect can add up. Over time, they wear people down emotionally and lead to burnout.
Organizational psychologist Catherine Vasey explains that being ignored or constantly judged erodes self-confidence and reduces motivation to do a good job. (Burn-out : le repérer et en sortir avant qu’il ne soit trop tard, Éditions Jouvence, 2018)
Data from CPHR Canada shows that workplaces where respect is lacking face:
- Higher absenteeism
- Increased staff turnover
- Lower productivity
- More frequent misunderstandings and conflicts
If left unaddressed [workplace bullying], can increase stress, reduce productivity, and cause higher employee turnover. In a study done by the Workplace Bullying Institute, 37% of employees have experienced bullying, with 57% of the targets being women.
The Hidden Costs of a Lack of Respect at Work
- Conflict between team members
- Loss of motivation and interest
- Psychological stress and fatigue
- Difficulty keeping good employees
- Less creativity and cooperation
- Fear or distrust in the workplace
- Mistakes and reduced productivity
- Damage to your reputation as an employer
💡 In short: A lack of respect costs time, money, and people.
Why a Respectful Workplace Is a Smart Investment
Promoting respect at work benefits everyone:
- Better employee retention
- Smoother communication
- Improved well-being
- Fewer sick days and leave
- Higher performance from individuals and teams
💡 Good to Know:
In Canada, employers have a legal duty to prevent psychological harassment and ensure a respectful work environment. This includes repeated disrespectful behaviour, and in some provinces, such as Quebec under the CNESST, even a single serious incident may be considered harassment if it causes lasting harm.
Signs That There May Be Lack of Respect Within Your Team
Here are some clues that your team might be facing issues with respect:
- Frequent tension that no one talks about
- Sarcastic or negative tones in interactions
- Some workers being left out or isolated
- Sudden disengagement from team members
- Repeated inappropriate jokes
- More unplanned absences
🧠 Example : A cashier who’s usually friendly and chatty with both customers and coworkers suddenly becomes withdrawn. She stops engaging in casual conversations during breaks, avoids eye contact with team members, and seems tense during her shift. These changes in behaviour may point to a deeper issue, such as a lack of respect at work.
The REACT Plan: A 5-Step Strategy to Promote Respect at Work
I like to use the acronym REACT: Recognize, Express, Archive, Coach, and Teach. It’s an easy way to remember five actions that help promote a respectful workplace.
The REACT plan offers a clear and simple way to step in when respect is lacking. Here’s how it works:
R – Recognize Who Is Involved
Talk privately with each employee involved. Stay neutral and focus on facts. Clarify the behaviours that are expected. Listening carefully often helps ease tensions before they grow. Take notes in your employee records.
📚 Read our article to learn more about active listening and how to adopt it in practice.
E – Express Expectations to the Team
Gather your team to remind everyone about your shared values and the respectful behaviours you expect. Keep your tone inclusive. A clear, collective reminder can help reset the atmosphere.
A – Archive Incidents and Actions Taken
Document any inappropriate behaviour and how you handled it. This helps you keep track and shows your professionalism if the issue comes up again.
💡 Agendrix Tip: Use the Employee Records to securely store these notes and keep everything in one place.
C – Coach your Team
Offer support where needed: training, mentorship, HR resources, etc. Helping team members build better communication and relationship skills benefits everyone.
📚 Read our article all about one-on-one meetings, the perfect time to provide personalized coaching.
T – Teach by Example
Your own behaviour has a big impact. Be consistent, stay calm, and recognize others’ efforts. Respect is something people tend to mirror, for better or worse.
💟 If you want to develop the secret tool of top managers, emotional intelligence, and become a better role model in your workplace interactions, this is the place to start.
20 Simple Ways to Promote Respect at Work
- Greet team members at the start and end of each shift
- Let people finish speaking without cutting in
- Give credit where it’s due
- Have difficult conversations face to face when possible
- Be on time and respect other people’s time
- Address colleagues in a respectful tone, even during tough conversations
- Make sure roles and responsibilities are clear
- Welcome different opinions
- Address inappropriate jokes or sarcasm immediately
- Offer a way to share concerns anonymously
- Provide training on interpersonal skills
- Check in regularly on team morale
- Avoid comparing teammates to one another
- Celebrate group successes, not just individual ones
- Step in early when tensions rise
- Support employees who are under pressure
- Encourage and highlight everyday respectful actions
- Ask informal leaders to model respectful behaviour
- Plan inclusive team-building activities
- Keep respect part of everyday conversations
A Respectful Workplace Starts With You
Respect in the workplace is built every day, through small gestures as much as big decisions.
A respectful environment not only helps prevent unnecessary conflicts but also fosters engagement, loyalty, and collective performance.
As a manager, every action matters. Whether it’s by modeling the right behaviors, addressing issues early, or equipping your team with the right tools, you directly contribute to creating a workplace culture where people feel good and want to stay.
Caring about respect also means caring about your company’s overall health.
What does a lack of respect at work look like?
A lack of respect at work can include actions or behaviours that harm trust, fairness, or psychological safety. This may involve ignoring feedback, interrupting coworkers, mocking ideas, excluding team members, or using a negative or sarcastic tone during shifts.
How can I promote a respectful workplace in Canada?
To promote respect at work in Canada, you should:
- Model respectful behaviours consistently
- Address conflicts early and privately
- Offer communication training and HR support
- Encourage feedback and inclusivity
- Follow your province’s workplace safety regulations on harassment and psychological health
What are the risks of ignoring a lack of respect in the workplace?
When a lack of respect is left unaddressed, it can lead to:
- Higher absenteeism at work
- Staff burnout and turnover
- Poor team morale
- More frequent mistakes or conflict
- A damaged employer brand
What does Canadian law say about respect at work?
In Canada, employers are legally required to provide a respectful and psychologically safe work environment. This includes preventing harassment, bullying, and repeated disrespectful behaviours. In provinces like Quebec, under the CNESST, even a single serious incident can qualify as psychological harassment.
What should I do if a colleague disrespects me at work?
If a colleague regularly shows a lack of respect at work, such as interrupting, mocking others, or dismissing ideas, you should first document what you observe. When possible, address the issue calmly and privately. If the behaviour continues, inform a manager or HR representative and refer to your workplace’s code of conduct. In Canada, repeated disrespectful behaviour may fall under workplace harassment laws.
- Document the situation objectively
- Speak privately with the person, if appropriate
- Involve a supervisor or manager if the behaviour continues
- Refer to your company’s policy or code of conductEscalate to HR or your provincial labour standards if necessary
Can a lack of respect at work be considered harassment in Canada?
Yes. If the behaviour is repeated or serious enough to cause lasting harm, it may be considered psychological harassment under Canadian labour laws. Each province has its own definitions and reporting processes, so it’s important to be familiar with local legislation.
How can Agendrix help promote respect at work in Canadian workplaces?
Agendrix helps managers and teams in Canada create more respectful workplaces by offering:
- Centralized communication channels
- Clear, conflict-free scheduling tools
- Employee recognition features
- Built-in employee records for tracking issues and follow-ups
