{"640875":{"#nid":"640875","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Civil Discourse in the Workplace ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAs a dynamic and diverse institution, we respect various perspectives and opinions. As employees within the University System of Georgia (USG), we are held to the highest ethical and professional standards of conduct within the workplace. Under \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.usg.edu\/policymanual\/section8\/C224\/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct\u0022\u003ESection 8.2.18 of the USG Personnel Conduct\u003C\/a\u003E, specifically the Ethics Policy, employees are required to be responsible for their individual actions. Employees are also required to adhere to the USG\u0026rsquo;s Statement of Core Values \u0026ndash; Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EWith Election Day nearing, it is natural to expect that political conversations will find their way into the workplace. It may start as a friendly joke in a virtual meeting. Or it may be a dismissive jab at the end of a conversation. No matter how they begin, we must remember USG\u0026rsquo;s core values as we initiate or participate in these exchanges.\u202f\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech Human Resources (GTHR)\u0026nbsp;wants\u0026nbsp;to help lay the groundwork for healthy, respectful conversations at work that embrace differences\u0026nbsp;of opinion:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBehaviors that\u0026nbsp;Support Dialogue\u003Csup\u003E1\u003C\/sup\u003E:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\r\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\r\n\u003Cul\u003E\r\n\t\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EListen to understand.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\r\n\r\n\t\u003Cul\u003E\r\n\t\t\u003Cli\u003EIt\u0026nbsp;is important to remember active listening skills in any\u0026nbsp;dialogue, particularly when\u0026nbsp;there is\u0026nbsp;a difference of opinion. Focus on listening to what your colleague is saying and then repeat their opinion\u0026nbsp;\u0026mdash;\u0026nbsp;in\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;your own words\u0026nbsp;\u0026mdash;\u0026nbsp;back\u0026nbsp;to them\u0026nbsp;in a manner that avoids\u0026nbsp;passing judgment.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\t\u003C\/ul\u003E\r\n\t\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\r\n\u003C\/div\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\r\n\u003Cul\u003E\r\n\t\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EShare your story.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\r\n\r\n\t\u003Cul\u003E\r\n\t\t\u003Cli\u003EStorytelling is a powerful tool\u0026nbsp;that helps build inclusivity and connection. You may find in sharing experiences\u0026nbsp;that\u0026nbsp;you have more in common than you realized.\u0026nbsp;Georgia Tech encourages storytelling through\u0026nbsp;its\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sdie.gatech.edu\/transformative-narratives\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ETransformational Narratives\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;program.\u0026nbsp;Employees can begin\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sdie.gatech.edu\/share-your-story\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Esharing their stories here.\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\t\u003C\/ul\u003E\r\n\t\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\r\n\u003C\/div\u003E\r\n\u003C\/div\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\r\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\r\n\u003Cul\u003E\r\n\t\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBe aware of assumptions and stereotypes.\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\u0026nbsp;\r\n\r\n\t\u003Cul\u003E\r\n\t\t\u003Cli\u003EWe\u0026nbsp;all have biases that alter our reactions to certain situations. It\u0026nbsp;is important to remember that\u0026nbsp;we sometimes tend to judge people based on their behavior,\u0026nbsp;forgetting\u0026nbsp;about situational\u0026nbsp;circumstances\u0026nbsp;that could be affecting that behavior.\u0026nbsp;Listen to your colleague, focusing in on their unique situation and what could be happening to produce their behaviors.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\t\u003C\/ul\u003E\r\n\t\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\r\n\u003C\/div\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\r\n\u003Cul\u003E\r\n\t\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBe open to differing opinions and experiences.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\r\n\r\n\t\u003Cul\u003E\r\n\t\t\u003Cli\u003EDiffering opinions are the foundation for creativity and innovation. Without them, the workplace would be stagnant and dull.\u0026nbsp;Appreciate your colleague for who they are and\u0026nbsp;notice how your differing opinions can create change that\u0026rsquo;s best for both of you.\u0026nbsp;Employees can listen to our\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/interruptions\/interruption-episode-1\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ERadical Candor Interruptions podcast\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;and learn how to share differences more effectively.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\t\u003C\/ul\u003E\r\n\t\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\r\n\u003C\/div\u003E\r\n\u003C\/div\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\r\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\r\n\u003Cul\u003E\r\n\t\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAcknowledge places of agreement.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\r\n\r\n\t\u003Cul\u003E\r\n\t\t\u003Cli\u003EWhile you and your colleague may disagree on\u0026nbsp;one\u0026nbsp;aspect of your discussion, you may both agree on the common goal you are hoping to achieve. Take a\u0026nbsp;moment to compartmentalize your\u0026nbsp;discussion,\u0026nbsp;building on\u0026nbsp;areas of agreement that could help lead to greater understanding.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\t\u003C\/ul\u003E\r\n\t\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\r\n\u003C\/div\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\r\n\u003Cul\u003E\r\n\t\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMaintain professional standards while discussing varying opinions.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\r\n\r\n\t\u003Cul\u003E\r\n\t\t\u003Cli\u003EAt Georgia Tech, we value respecting others and ourselves, leveraging diversity of thought in all aspects of the employee experience.\u0026nbsp;We work to ensure\u0026nbsp;that\u0026nbsp;Georgia Tech is a positive work environment for all. If an employee feels a difference in opinion has caused\u0026nbsp;an issue too large for them to handle,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/hr.gatech.edu\/employee-relations\/workplace-disputes\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech Employee Relations\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;is ready\u0026nbsp;to assist.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\t\u003C\/ul\u003E\r\n\t\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\r\n\u003C\/div\u003E\r\n\u003C\/div\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWatch\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cul\u003E\r\n\t\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/learning\/communicating-through-disagreement\/having-impossible-conversations?u=2163426\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ELinkedIn Learning:\u202fCommunicating through\u0026nbsp;Disagreement\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\t\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/learning\/difficult-situations-solutions-for-managers\/managing-national-political-discussions-at-work?u=2163426\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EManaging National Political Discussions at Work\u003C\/a\u003E\u202f\u202f\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\t\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/learning\/difficult-situations-solutions-for-managers\/the-tough-stuff-of-being-a-manager?u=2163426\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EDifficult Situations: Solutions for Managers course\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\t\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.ted.com\/talks\/julia_dhar_how_to_disagree_productively_and_find_common_ground#t-682308\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EHow to Disagree Productively and Find Common Ground\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u0026ndash;\u0026nbsp;TED\u0026nbsp;Talk\u0026nbsp;by Julia Dhar\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERead\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cul\u003E\r\n\t\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.seattletimes.com\/opinion\/5-tips-for-creating-civil-discourse-in-an-era-of-polarization\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E5 tips for creating civil discourse in an era of polarization\u003C\/a\u003E\u202f\u0026ndash; Short article by Charles\u0026nbsp;Camosy\u0026nbsp;(2012) in\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;Seattle Times\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\t\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.bizjournals.com\/bizjournals\/how-to\/human-resources\/2020\/10\/how-to-keep-civil-discourse-civilized.html\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EHow to keep civil discourse civilized\u003C\/a\u003E\u202f\u0026ndash; Short article by Stevie Ray (2020) in\u0026nbsp;The Business Journals\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\t\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nextavenue.org\/civil-discourse-polarization\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ECivil Discourse in an Era of Polarization\u003C\/a\u003E\u202f\u0026ndash; Short article by Jackson Rainer (2019) in\u0026nbsp;Next Avenue\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EGTHR is here to assist all employees experiencing any challenges.\u0026nbsp;For help:\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Col\u003E\r\n\t\u003Cli\u003ETalk with\u0026nbsp;your\u0026nbsp;manager.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\t\u003Cli\u003EReach out to your\u0026nbsp;HR Business Partner\/representative.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\t\u003Cli\u003EConnect with GTHR Employee Relations at\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:employee-relations@ohr.gatech.edu\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Eemployee-relations@ohr.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\u003C\/ol\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EStaff and faculty may also find support through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) at\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/hwb.gatech.edu\/eap\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Ehwb.gatech.edu\/eap\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Csup\u003E1\u003C\/sup\u003EAdapted from Five College Intergroup Dialogue Program; Faculty, Staff, and Student Dialogue.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAs a dynamic and diverse institution, we respect various perspectives and opinions. As employees within the University System of Georgia (USG), we are held to the highest ethical and professional standards of conduct within the workplace. Under Section 8.2.18 of the USG Personnel Conduct, specifically the Ethics Policy, employees are required to be responsible for their individual actions.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"As a dynamic and diverse institution, we respect various perspectives and opinions. As employees within the University System of Georgia (USG), we are held to the highest ethical and professional standards of conduct within the workplace."}],"uid":"33986","created_gmt":"2020-11-02 17:15:19","changed_gmt":"2020-11-03 15:23:48","author":"Treshea Wade","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2020-11-02T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2020-11-02T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"640902":{"id":"640902","type":"image","title":"Georgia Voter Sticker","body":null,"created":"1604416951","gmt_created":"2020-11-03 15:22:31","changed":"1604416951","gmt_changed":"2020-11-03 15:22:31","alt":"","file":{"fid":"243583","name":"GA-Vote-Sticker.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/GA-Vote-Sticker.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/GA-Vote-Sticker.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":214158,"path_740":"http:\/\/tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/GA-Vote-Sticker.jpg?itok=0Ba6jPcU"}}},"media_ids":["640902"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/hr.gatech.edu\/employee-relations","title":"GTHR Employee Relations"}],"groups":[{"id":"64303","name":"Human Resources"}],"categories":[{"id":"129","name":"Institute and Campus"}],"keywords":[{"id":"2775","name":"human resources"},{"id":"4508","name":"political"},{"id":"9475","name":"elections"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ETreshea N. Wade\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nDirector of Communications\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nGeorgia Tech Human Resources\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["treshea.wade@ohr.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}