Please note: I wrote this article before a large portion of our workforce started working from home. So many of these tips on how to be kind to your coworkers might not work in our current situation. Still, I think that being kind to one another is crucially important – now more than ever. So if you can think of ways to be kind to your coworkers who are working remotely, please add your suggestions to the Comments section below!

A few weeks ago, I wrote an article about the benefits of being kind at the office. Researchers found that small acts of kindness can have far-reaching effects. Employees who experience an act of kindness feel a greater sense of camaraderie, feel happier and more satisfied with their work, and often start acting kinder to the people around them. Overall, a kind workplace tends to be a more effective, engaging, productive work environment.

But what, exactly, does it mean to be kind to your coworkers? What does that entail? If you’re not quite sure what you should do to promote kindness in your office, author Dawn Rosenberg McKay has generated an excellent list of ideas. Try giving one or more of these suggestions a try:

  • If your coworker seems tired, bring him or her a cup of coffee or some other type of comforting hot beverage.
  • Share your afternoon snack with a coworker who seems especially hungry.
  • Bring in a tasty treat to share with everyone in the office.
  • Offer to help a coworker who is having difficulty with a certain task or project.
  • Praise and congratulate a coworker who is doing good work.
  • Let your boss know that a coworker is doing good work.
  • Clean up a common area (like the office break room or fridge).
  • Provide new hires with helpful advice.
  • Ask people for their opinions. It will make them realize how much you value what they have to say.
  • Invite a new hire to go out to lunch with you.
  • If you need to run to the store to pick something up, offer to pick something up for your coworker as well.
  • Try to stop people from circulating mean or false rumors about other coworkers.
  • Say “good morning” to your coworkers, and say “goodbye” to them in the evening.
  • Listen to your coworkers when they’re having problems. Offer your sympathy and support.

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McKay, D. R. (2019, March 15). Random acts of kindness. The Balance Careers. Retrieved from: https://www.thebalancecareers.com/random-acts-of-kindness-at-work-525454