Introducing The Civility Index

HR leaders have long measured employees' experience by engagement, retention, and performance. Now comes a new metric which is gaining attention for its profound impact on all three: the Civility Index.

Civility is more than simply being polite. It is upheld through three foundational principles: Empathy, Respect, and Trust. These guiding values enable organizations to create respectful environments that foster engagement, innovation, collaboration, and reduced turnover. When civility is present, employees are more likely to contribute ideas, work effectively with colleagues, and remain committed to their organizations. When it is absent, the consequences can be significant.

Why are we believed to be uncivilized?

Several societal factors appear to be fueling this rise in uncivil behavior with top contributors include Political differences, Racial tensions, Age-related differences and biases and Concerns about the rising cost of living in the United States

According to SHRM, growing political divisions have made it more difficult for individuals to engage respectfully with those holding different viewpoints. Inflation, housing costs, healthcare expenses, and financial uncertainty create stress that reduces patience and increase conflict. In addition ,remote work, social media, and constant digital communication negatively impact empathy and increase misunderstandings, and employees facing high workloads, staffing shortages, and continuous change may become less tolerant and more reactive. Communication styles, workplace expectations, and values are also top causes for friction when not managed effectively.

The Business Cost of Incivility

Incivility is often dismissed as a "soft" issue and is treated by manager as "just play nice in the sandbox" attitude . But in reality, incivility's consequences are measurable and expensive. The estimated collective daily loss for U.S. organizations due to reduced productivity and absenteeism caused by workplace incivility is $2,657,402,031 per day.

This staggering figure reflects lost focus, disengagement, stress-related absences, conflict management, and employee turnover. Beyond the financial impact, incivility damages organizational culture, weakens collaboration, and erodes trust among teams.

Building a More Civil Workplace: A Practical Solution by Empire HR

Organizations cannot control societal tensions, but they can influence workplace culture. As a fractional HR I help leaders promote civility expectations that are embedded in company values, leadership competencies, and performance evaluations. Managers are equipped to recognize, address, and resolve uncivil behavior quickly and consistently and training includes conflict management, active listening, and inclusive communication.

Organizations that prioritize civility report of stronger employee engagement, greater innovation, lower turnover, and better business outcomes.

Reach out if you think we can help your organization promote Civility among your team memebers.