#Day1 for Workplaces

Workplace bullying is an ever-growing issue and concern for employers. According to Workplace Bullying Institute’s 2021 Workplace Bullying Survey, approximately 79.3 million U.S. workers were affected by bullying in their workplace.  These bullying behaviors affect employee satisfaction, performance and engagement – which directly impacts the overall success, and productivity of a business.   

Nobody deserves to be bullied, harassed or intimidated while they are trying to do their job. 

#Day1 is an effective tool that shares your company’s values and the expectations for a safe, supportive and inclusive environment for all your employees from the very first day on the job. 

When used with your Human Resource onboarding materials #Day1 clearly sets boundaries for acceptable behaviors required of your employees, from the very first day of employment.  #Day1 empowers employees to celebrate diversity, kindness and respect while also instructing employees how to intervene safely and appropriately in a bullying situation.  

#Day1 can also be used routinely with your yearly workplace safety programming for your entire workforce so that kindness, respect and Upstander behavior becomes a permanent component of your company’s ethos and culture.

#Day1 can be implemented any day you want to create a safe inclusive workplace that is accepting of diversity, and free of hostility and bullying behavior. 

Let today be your #Day1 … To get started simply…..

Review the below #Day1 Declaration.  

Then complete the form below to receive a pdf version of the #Day1 Declaration for Workplaces.   

Rehearse the #Day1 declaration before presenting in your workplace.

Read the Declaration on #Day1 of your group meeting together or on #Day1 of a new beginning when you want to put an end to bullying behavior and begin on a new journey of acceptance, compassion and respect. 

Be sure to personalize the declaration with the name of your company in the appropriate spaces. Customizing #Day1 to your company’s branding, identity and internal language will make the declaration authentic and real for your new hires as well as current employees.  

Receive a verbal acknowledgment of agreement from your employees that they will adhere to the declaration.

Once you have created a safe respectful workplace/community, encourage your employees to become Upstanders.  Pass out copies of the Upstander Pledge or visit tylerclementi.org/pledge.  Read the pledge aloud together. Discuss what it means to them and answer any questions.  Then have each member sign the Upstander Pledge, either on the paper or directly on the website, whichever works best for you.

Reading the declaration is not a one-and-done situation.  But rather it is a baseline for a constant conversation that will be continued throughout the entire year and again the following year. To assist in these conversations an optional component we suggest is to create artwork or illustrations, such as the Upstander Pledge or #Day1 Declaration, that can act as a visual reminder to support Upstander behavior.  This daily visual reminder will help everyone to remember that this is a safe respectful space for everyone, and bullying behavior will not be tolerated here.

[su_divider top=”no” text=”Back to Top” style=”dotted” divider_color=”#4a7485″ link_color=”#4a7485″]

#Day1 Declaration 

At (insert name of company/workplace), we are committed to an environment that is supportive of our mission as well as those who help us see it through. We expect an environment that is safe and respectful for all people employees, customers, and guests with who we interact virtually or within one of our facilities.

At (insert name of company/workplace) our culture is built on dignity and respect. We value all our employees and their safety whether it be physical, mental, and emotional is the number one priority.

(Insert a quick authentic personal story about how you may have said something that hurt someone’s feelings, intentionally or unintentionally, and the consequences or what you learned from that experience). (Adapt to your organizational culture/values).

Any act of harassment, humiliation or bullying against another person, superior, subordinate, or peer, online or in person, is against our values here at (insert name of company/workplace). Specifically, (insert your Employee Handbook discrimination statement to be consistent with your existing policies)bullying, intimidation or harassment based on race, ethnicity, nationality, gender expression, sexual orientation, body shape or size, or physical, mental or learning ability, financial position, religion or lack of religion, or political beliefs is not acceptable and will be taken very seriously.

We will not tolerate bullying, harassment or humiliation of any kind.

It is every single person’s responsibility to ensure (insert name of company/workplace) continues to be a safe and welcoming environment for all persons.

At (insert name of company/workplace) we expect you to do your best to demonstrate respect, intellectual curiosity, empathy, and kindness to everyone. If you see someone doing harm to another person, do something: report it. If you feel safe, try to stop it by intervening. Joining in or doing nothing is not being respectful or kind. If you feel like going the extra step, reach out to the person who was targeted with a kind word or gesture. You might just have a huge impact on someone’s life.

We all make mistakes, so if someone disrespects you, simply say, “That is disrespectful. Please stop.”

There are several resources available to support you if needed, including your manager, any member of the executive team, or the Human Resource Department.

If someone tells you that something you said or did is hurtful or disrespectful, and you are unsure of how to respond, you too may seek out these resources to better understand how you can hear their concerns. As needed, you may need to apologize and make a commitment to seek help for more information around how others received your actions.

Does anyone have any questions about what we expect here? If needed, I’m available one-on-one for additional clarity, concerns or questions after this statement.

Do you all understand our expectations here at (insert name of company/workplace)? 

[su_divider top=”no” text=”Back to Top” style=”dotted” divider_color=”#4a7485″ link_color=”#4a7485″]

Upstander Pledge

I pledge to not remain a passive bystander but rather be an active Upstander when I witness bullying behavior.

As an Upstander;

I will intervene whenever I see or hear anyone being targeted with bullying behavior; whether I’m at school, at home, at work, or in my faith community; whether I am speaking in digital spaces or out in the real world with friends, family, colleagues or teammates. 

• I will interrupt the bullying behavior if it feels safe to do so.  I will intervene respectfully by saying: “please stop!”. 
• I will report what I saw or heard to a trusted adult or person of authority. I will also encourage the person I saw being bullied to report it, too. 
• I will reach out to the person who was targeted and let them know that bullying is never OK with me, and ask how I can help or assist them to get the help they need. 

I will choose words and actions that show my respect, kindness, and compassion for all people and always make everyone feel included and safe. 

I will not speak or act negatively about how another person is different from me; including their race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, home language, body shape or size, skin color, ability level, or any other real or perceived difference.  Instead, I will choose to learn about and celebrate what makes them unique, special, and precious.  If I hear others speaking or acting negatively because of someone’s differences, I will choose to be an Upstander and speak up.

If I learn in person or online that someone is feeling seriously depressed or potentially suicidal, I will reach out and tell this person, “Your life has value and is important, no matter how you feel at the moment, and no matter what others say or think.”  I will strongly encourage this person to get professional help.

I pledge to be an Upstander!

[su_divider top=”no” text=”Back to Top” style=”dotted” divider_color=”#4a7485″ link_color=”#4a7485″]