Positive Work Environment: Democratic Values

Open Ended

Imagine you are the owner of a company. What policies will you implement to make the workplace positive for you and your employees?

Positive Work Environments

Transition Planning 9-12

Positive Work Environments

Learning Goals

1. How can I contribute to a positive work environment?

2. What are the traits of a positive work environment?

3. Knowledge and skills: self-determination and self-advocacy, workplace competencies, citizenship

Match

Review from last week: Match each trait to what it might look or sound like.

• Pride

• Passion

• Belief

• Positive Attitude

• Work Ethic

"I am proud to put my name on this."

"I am excited and ready to do this!"

"This is a challenge, but I can do it."

Finds solutions and respects others.

Takes initiative and is dependable.

• "I am proud to put my name on this."

• "I am excited and ready to do this!"

• "This is a challenge, but I can do it."

• Finds solutions and respects others.

• Takes initiative and is dependable.

Our nation is founded on democracy. Democracy is also the goal we strive for as a nation, as we participate and vote to achieve the common good for all people. To define a positive workplace, let's see how democratic ideas might apply to the workplace.

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How do we define a "positive" workplace?

Categorize

Options (7)

Employees working together

Discussion for the purpose of making a decision that will be binding on everyone

People are empowered to decide together the best option rather than following commands of leader

Explaining, listening, negotiating, compromising, and forgiving

I have a different opinion. How can we meet in the middle?

This is what I think, but I want to hear what you have to say.

I don't understand your point of view, can you tell me more?

Deliberation

Concept

What it looks like

What it sounds like

Categorize

Options (6)

Box to Collect Votes

Majority rule

Everyone gets a say in what decision is made

A boss asks for employees' input before implementing a new policy at work

After hearing from everybody, most people wanted option number 1.

I am going to make my voice and my opinion heard.

Voting and Elections

Concept

What it looks like

What it sounds like

Categorize

Options (8)

Being predisposed to listen to evidence rather than to prejudices, stereotypes

Being able to see below the surface to find the causes of a problem

I have an idea about what might be causing this problem.

Informed participants have a keen respect for the facts

Knowledge is needed for problem solving, reflection, and living

Today we will have a professional development training for all employees.

All employees understand the company's goal or "mission"

Knowledge

Concept

What it looks like

What it sounds like

Not sure

Categorize

Options (10)

Abstract ideas that cannot be seen, but are inferred based on words and actions

The public or common good

Equality of opportunity

Taking responsibility for one's own actions

An employee considers her coworkers when she decides not to eat smelly fish in the shared office

I disagree, but I respect your right to do that.

Listening actively during discussions and providing constructive feedback

Offering help to a colleague who is struggling with a task

Let's find a solution that works for everyone.

Can you help me understand your point of view better?

Values

Concept

What it looks like

What it sounds like

Poll

Dispositions and Virtues: Choose one or more that you think are most important in the workplace.

• Civil: Respectful and Responsible

• Honest: Truthful, Open and Sincere

• Courageous: Passionate, Ambitious and Motivated

• Fair: Equitable and Open-Minded

• Lawful: Ethical and Peaceful

As future bosses and employees, we will each define this differently. We can use democratic ideals as a good place to start. In democracy, each person is treated with fairness and respect as we work together towards one common goal or "common good".

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Review: How do we define a "positive" workplace?

Open Ended

Imagine you are the owner of a company. What policies will you implement to make the workplace positive or "democratic" for you and your employees?

Open Ended

Please answer this question with a job/career that you have explored in this class or one that you would like to explore. This will be used for next week's lesson, and for our budgeting lesson after spring break.