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Respect

Banish bullying and harrassment.

Photo of a woman of colour holding a tablet and addressing a group of people in a room
Photo of a woman in a green shirt giving a talk or lecture to a group

According to the American Psychological Association, only 32% of of working Americans surveyed said their organisation was doing something in response to #MeToo. And while the instinctive response is to promote anonymous helplines and demand people speak up, the research shows that these solutions will have, at best, a marginal effect and might even do more harm.

In the wake of #MeToo and high-profile cases at the top of big companies, now more than ever the spotlight is on business leaders to keep their workplaces safe from predatory behaviour. Beyond the headlines, the business case for creating a culture of respect speaks for itself.

The three components of the toxic triangle:

Cultures that are lacking in respect and that enable harassment are characterised by a toxic triangle of factors:

01 Powerful imitators

02 Permissive environment

03 Susceptible participants

The most severe cases of bullying and harassment are found when all three factors are present.

A green and black diagram representing the 'toxic triangle' of respect
Photo of an Asian man holding a tablet and speaking to two people sat in front of him

Creating a culture of respect in the workplace

By recognising the different forms of bullying and harassment and the many parties involved, we can begin to create a climate of respect, where we:

  • Agree on what is or isn’t acceptable behaviour at work
  • Notice unacceptable behaviour and see it for what it is
  • Say or do something about unacceptable behaviour when we see it.

Ready to create a workplace where everyone feels respected?

Our behavioural science-based approach helps you eliminate bullying and harassment at the root – not just manage complaints after the fact.

We equip your people to recognise what’s acceptable, speak up safely and shape a culture of everyday accountability – without fear, confusion or exclusion.