14 STRIKING THE RIGHT BALANCE BETWEEN HONESTY AND PROFESSIONALISM Key traits for creating respectful environments Denise Faguy AgCareers.com A RECENT HARRIS SURVEY AMONG CANADIAN COMPANIES HIGHLIGHTS SIGNIFICANT CONCERNS REGARDING PROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOUR IN THE WORKPLACE. LEARNING MORE ABOUT THESE ISSUES CAN HELP PROFESSIONALS MAKE APPROPRIATE CAREER DECISIONS. Many employers believe employees struggle to strike the right balance between honesty and professionalism, with 50 percent stating that employees can sometimes be “too honest.” Issues include sharing too much personal information (59%), criticizing colleagues or the company (59%), gossiping (53%), and venting frustrations about coworkers (50%). Job seekers also acknowledge the importance of professionalism. Many agree on what constitutes unacceptable behaviour, with 77 percent citing getting drunk during work hours as inappropriate. However, when it comes to admitting their own unprofessional actions, the issues are often less severe, such as making personal calls or using social media (41%), swearing (32%), or gossiping (25%). The survey revealed clear differences in how gender and age groups perceive workplace behaviour. Female hiring managers are more likely than their male counterparts to view certain actions as unacceptable, such as gossiping, sharing personal information, or dating a manager. Similarly, older generations like Boomers and Gen X tend to hold stricter views than younger generations regarding behaviours like swearing and using company resources for personal tasks. Employers have noted these generational differences, with 91% emphasizing the importance of teaching younger employees when and how to share their honest thoughts appropriately. Striking a balance between honesty and professionalism is seen as critical for maintaining a respectful workplace culture. PHOTO: Ekaterina Vakhrameeva/iStock/ Getty Images Plus Older generations like Boomers and Gen X tend to hold stricter views than younger generations regarding behaviours like swearing and using company resources for personal tasks.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTQyMDk=