In my research on dysfunctional workplace cultures, a LinkedIn connection shared the following “Ten Commandments of the Workplace” that can be honored by both employees and employers. [Special thanks to James Dodds for bringing this to my attention.]
Ten Commandments of the Workplace
- You have the right to be treated with respect and the responsibility to respect others.
- You have the right to be treated fairly and the responsibility to treat others fairly.
- You have the responsibility to respect the rights and needs of others.
- You have the right to a work environment that is free of distractions.
- You acknowledge that change is difficult and necessary.
- You acknowledge that errors are often the symptoms of a larger problem, and not the problem itself, and work to find better solutions.
- You acknowledge that employees are part of the solution, not the problem.
- You acknowledge that while blame is easy, finding the right answer is hard.
- You acknowledge that finding the best answer often requires everyone being involved.
- You acknowledge that while customers come first, they may not always be right.
Source: The Three Legged Table: Why Every Employee Matters by Brian James.
If you find yourself needing to fix a dysfunctional work environment, this is a good place to start.