Incivility is running rampant and data shows that people are more stressed than before, making it more important than ever to show kindness at work. Kindness brightens the world around us, strengthens interpersonal relationships, and brings a bit of levity to what is a heavy time for many people.
Showing kindness in a polarizing time is challenging. To relate to and find unity with coworkers, it may help to understand the sources of stress impacting many people.
Why Are People So Mean?
According to the Society of Human Resource Management, U.S. workers face 212 million acts of incivility daily, and 59% believe society is uncivil. Pew Research Center found that 47% of U.S. adults believe the public is ruder now than before the COVID-19 pandemic. Canada has a similar story as 51% believe people are becoming less polite, according to Narrative Research.
People in general seem angrier, and Psychology Today lists several contributing factors, including:
- Being overwhelmed
- Climate change
- Fear
- Inflation
- Not getting enough rest
The What Worries the World report (May 2026) shows inflation, unemployment, and corruption are elevated concerns for countries worldwide.
- Inflation is a top worry for North Americans (42% U.S., 52% Canada)
- Job market concerns are being felt around the world as unemployment increases in some areas
- Financial/political corruption is a worry in the U.S., reaching a 10-year high at 37%
Chronic stress and uncertainty are likely additional contributors. Even in uncertain, stressful, or scary times, mustering up a little kindness can go a long way.
What Does It Mean to Be Kind at Work?
Before we look at how people can be kinder at work, let’s establish what kindness is not.
- Being kind doesn’t mean being a pushover. It means being genuine, thoughtful, empathetic, and considerate.
- Kindness isn’t permission for others to treat you with disrespect. Moving with kindness may change how you respond to situations, but it doesn’t subject you to tolerating mistreatment.
- Being kind alone isn’t enough to be promoted, demonstrate your authority, or end interpersonal conflict. Kindness goes a long way, but so does showing your strength, tenacity, and passion for the work when it matters.
There are also important distinctions between being kind and being nice. Both have a place at work, but for relationship-building and long-term investment, kindness can establish a deeper and more trusting connection.
Courtesy of TheCaringTechie.com
Why Kindness Still Wins
Amid the incivility, negativity, and anger that workers experience, sharing kindness is a choice. It isn’t always easy, but there are real benefits to being kind at work.
- Research shows that happiness increases from doing acts of kindness.
- When employees practice organizational citizenship behaviors, it results in improved performance reviews, higher bonuses, and increased engagement. For companies, this increases productivity, efficiency, and customer satisfaction, plus lower turnover, according to Greater Good Magazine.
- Kindness starts with leadership. When leaders give their time and money generously, it motivates and engages employees, which leads to higher productivity that recoups the investment.
- Kindness positively influences business performance by improving retention, engagement, and employee well-being. When kindness is promoted as a company value, the company becomes more enticing to job seekers. The community building that happens among employees extends to benefit customer loyalty and strengthen stakeholder relationships.
Ways to Show Kindness at Work
- Take time in a team meeting to shout out something positive you’ve seen from a coworker.
- Send an encouraging note to someone you’ve worked with recently.
- Surprise your team with a pick-me-up like coffee or doughnuts when on deadline.
- Ask a teammate how they’re doing and show interest in their life—appropriately for your relationship and work culture.
- Be empathetic when a coworker is sharing a challenge or roadblock and offer support.
- Separate the person from work. Making a mistake at work doesn’t make someone a bad person and being a high performer doesn’t mean work is their only value. This distinction makes relationship-building and conversations more approachable.
Kindness doesn’t mean avoiding conflict at work. You can be the kindest person and still face challenges. When addressing conflict or difficult situations, kindness isn’t always an appropriate response.
Situations involving bullying, violence, harassment, or incivility call for a stronger response and seeking support from your boss or HR. In these situations, core values of kindness can still be practiced through professionalism, respect, and adhering to applicable reporting procedures.
Work can be unpredictable, and showing kindness through offering support, showing empathy, and respect helps create a more positive workplace. In a world that often feels heavy, moments that seem small can have a lasting impact.
About Express Employment Professionals
At Express Employment Professionals, we’re in the business of people. From job seekers to client companies, Express helps people thrive and businesses grow. Our international network of franchises offers localized staffing solutions to the communities they serve across the U.S., Canada, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand, employing more than 11 million since its inception. Learn more at ExpressPros.com or ExpressPros.ca.
