Did you know August is “Win with Civility” month? Well, neither did I until I stumbled on this informative blog post on the importance of workplace civility initiatives.

Apparently civility, like respect in the workplace or lack of it, is a hot issue nowadays. Recently, while listening to the morning show of a local radio station, my ears perked up when the announcers asked listeners what their biggest pet peeves of co-workers were.  The phone lines were ablaze with listeners calling in to tell tales of co-workers gone awry. Everything from fellow employees clipping fingernails in the office and leaving them in common areas to the more obvious gossipers and backstabbers were mentioned.

But what about those co-workers who are actually respectful and civil at work? I think they should get as much or even more air time than those behaving badly, so I did a little online sleuthing and found the following resources for celebrating civility.

The Civility Project

Take the civility pledge by agreeing to:

  • Be civil in my public discourse and behavior
  • Be respectful of others whether or not I agree with them.
  • Stand against incivility when I see it.

Choose Civility

Nominate someone in Howard County, MD for the Choose Civility Awards that: “Recognize businesses, organizations, and individuals that model civility in their daily lives; and whose actions and behavior set an example, raise the standards of civility, and make a sustainable positive impact.”