Your people should be able to work in a non-hostile environment.
That seems obvious, of course. But sometimes team members are on the receiving end of micro-aggressions, negative comments, or actions that can create a hostile work environment. Racism, sexism, bigotry, bullying, and hazing are NOT appropriate in the workplace… even if “we had to deal with it when we started out.” These can cause plummeting morale, poor retention, or even open the firm to legal exposure.
As leaders, we set the tone and the expectations for our teams. That means we don’t do these things ourselves, and we don’t tolerate them from team-members.
Let your people know that you want everyone to feel welcome and included on the team.
Talk to HR about training or other info that you can provide to your team, and make sure you know what to do if there is an issue.
Make sure you are approachable so that your people can talk to you if they have a problem.
If someone comes to you with an issue, give them the respect of listening and taking them seriously, and make sure you get information from both parties, to prevent misunderstandings.
Remember that you are the leader, and that means it might not be your fault, but it is your problem. Don’t procrastinate on this type of issue—it doesn’t get better if it is allowed to fester or escalate.
(image generated using Midjourney)