Toxic workplace behavior is a genuine, valid concern for all companies, large or small. Favoritism, bullying, fear of management personnel, and safety issues are among many problems that can motivate employees to seek employment elsewhere. But this toxicity can be turned around to cultivate a positive, equitable work environment by implementing an ethics hotline. Read on to find out how:

How does workplace toxicity affect companies?

It is a pervasive process that results in a toxic, unpleasant work environment. This toxicity can lead to excessive absenteeism, high turnover, and decreased work productivity. Employees lose trust in leadership and the company’s overall vision. Excessive turnover means increased training time for new hires and dissatisfaction among existing employees.

Resolving workplace toxicity with an ethics hotline

Employees want a safe, confidential, and concise method of reporting their concerns and assuring that these concerns will be identified and addressed. An ethics hotline checks these boxes, offering a readily accessible, multi-use method of reporting. Employees have multiple options for submitting their report, including reporting by phone, a secure website, email, or an app.

Cultivating a positive work environment

Now that a communication method is available, let’s explore how to facilitate a positive workplace culture. The information derived from the hotline submissions is a valuable tool for formulating the organization’s direction toward a non-toxic work environment. Management can take the lead by providing affirmative role models to employees. Arriving on time to work each day, refraining from gossip or inappropriate conversations about other staff members, and being sensitive to employee concerns or issues are excellent methods of cultivating trust and loyalty within the company.

Refresh personnel policies and hiring practices

A succinct personnel policy outlines the organization’s expectations of employees and leadership and provides guidelines and job descriptions for the entire staff. The policy can also instruct employees on reporting concerns or feedback through the ethics hotline. Onboarding new team members with ethics training and guidance for using a hotline will ensure everyone is informed.

Identify safety concerns

Employees should feel confident that their work environment is safe and supportive. Most employees equate a safe work environment with one free from favoritism, bullying or harassment, and fear of leadership. They can also include physical safety concerns, related to PPE, equipment, and operations. These concerns can be reported and identified anonymously via an ethics hotline. And your employees can have a vested interest in the process, confidentially being kept abreast of the process and the resolution of the complaint.

Everyone wins with a positive workplace

When workplace toxicity is eliminated, everyone wins. Employees know they have a safe, inclusive workspace, free from harassment, fear, or retaliation, and fair, equitable treatment. Leadership is confident in their employees’ performance and work quality and is secure in their knowledge that there is trust and loyalty within all tiers of the organization. Clients realize that the company product is backed up by solid customer service, which equals repeat purchases or utilization of services.

Ethical Advocate is well-versed in sifting through the negative aspects of a toxic workplace and replacing the toxicity with a safe, positive work environment. Let us help your company avoid common workplace ethics pitfalls and set up an ethics hotline.