“Safe space” has been a buzzword for quite a few years now, and with good reason. In a volatile and divided political climate, with the lines between social lives and work lives blurring more than ever, employees are looking to work with organizations whose values align with their own. Part of aligning values (even if there is a great diversity in opinion), is to create an environment where employees are encouraged to discuss controversial topics in a supportive setting. The more opportunities employees have to understand each others’ points of views, the more open and accepting the workplace will be.
A recent article from Tom Barry in Chief Executive Magazine outlines the whys and hows of employees’ desires to work in a safe environment. In addition, he goes on to list the simple steps one can take to get any organization on the right track. Take five minutes to check out the article, and see how well an open dialogue can help foster a culture of trust and acceptance.