Our workplace experience (WX) trends series looks at recent news articles, videos, social media posts, and thought leadership pieces on workplace experience. You’ll also hear from our experts on what’s trending.
Disrespect is a silent business killer. It fuels disengagement, stifles innovation, and drives top talent out the door – costing companies far more than they realize. In this WX trends, we look at why respect at work is key to success, and how internal communicators can integrate it into their employee engagement strategy.
A recent Gallup report reveals a concerning trend: just 4 in 10 employees in the US feel respected at work. This all-time low fuels disengagement, reduces job satisfaction, and breeds negativity, particularly among frontline workers. For internal communicators, this translates to a workforce less receptive to messaging, less likely to participate in initiatives, and more prone to internal discord.
Respect isn’t just a ‘nice-to-have’, says the report. It’s fundamental to engagement, collaboration, and good communication. Employees who report a lack of respect in the workplace are likely to be on the sharp end of ‘legally questionable’ behavior – and they’re more likely to leave.
Gallup suggests frequent, meaningful manager-employee conversations as a key solution, potentially boosting engagement fourfold. Weekly check-ins – not just policies – help leaders address respect gaps, align work and communication styles with employee preferences, and create a culture where people feel heard and valued.
“Respect isn’t just something that makes us feel good,” says Lauren Patton, Director of Internal Communications & Engagement at Appspace, “it’s a competitive advantage. When people in an organization feel respected, they feel safe. When they feel safe, they’re more likely to engage, contribute ideas, collaborate effectively, and commit to our shared goals.”
A decline in respect at work is compounded by workplace incivility, which doesn’t just damage morale but actively silences employees, killing opportunities for innovation, researchers have found.
Both men and women withhold ideas in toxic environments, but women do so more often because they don’t feel safe and fear a gender backlash.
Companies with a culture of incivility aren’t just losing ideas – they’re disproportionately losing the perspectives of women, say the report’s authors (which has long been known to significantly affect productivity, attracting and retaining talent, and the bottom line).
Staying silent also has a negative effect on employees’ prospects. Those who speak up are more often seen as having leadership potential and higher status. For women, who tend to have lower status in the workplace, giving them a voice is an important avenue for addressing inequality.
“Even confident women may decide to keep ideas to themselves if they feel that the environment is hostile,” say the report’s authors. So, instead of trying to ‘fix’ women by boosting confidence, leaders should fix the culture.
When civility improves, diverse voices thrive, and so does the business.
For leaders, supporting a culture of respect isn’t a soft skill – it’s a strategic imperative. And leaders need to be proactive.
Here are Lauren’s top tips on how internal communicators can help build a more respectful and engaging culture:
“Actively soliciting feedback and demonstrating a commitment to action signals that everyone’s voices are valued and have an impact,” says Lauren.
“The right employee comms solution can help create a positive and respectful workplace culture. These tools can help facilitate two-way communication, allowing people to easily share their perspectives and concerns and create psychological safety. They also provide a channel for leadership to communicate transparently and demonstrate accountability.”
© 2025 Appspace Inc. Appspace is a registered trademark of Appspace Inc. All rights reserved.
