Why are we not more compassionate at work?

Interesting post today on the HRINZ site about the need for more compassion in the workplace and the research of the Joffey Institute.

There is some significant research being done globally by a number of players including Stanford University about the benefits of compassion.

Too often, because of burnout, destructive work cultures, mindsets about power and professionalism, and outmoded beliefs, compassion is sorely lacking in the workplace.

Check out the latest research and take the test in relation to yourself. And, if you want to discuss how you can drive a more compassionate culture and demonstrate greater care for people;s wellbeing, talk to us.

From the HRINZ site:

NZ organisations should adopt a compassionate work index

New Zealand companies and organisations should adopt a United Kingdom compassionate work index model to improve working lives for Kiwis, says HRINZ chief executive Chris Till.

The compassionate index, created by the Roffey Park Institute, gets people to think what they are at work for, rather than just to make money.

“There is a lot more work to be done in terms of understanding compassion in the workplace and its related topic areas of self-compassion and organisational compassion,” says Till.

“At Roffey Park they have made a start that will help support those people in the workplace who are convinced that more caring, more generous and more compassionate organisations are not just a pipe dream; that with hard work, a committed leadership and the generation of some internal corporate momentum around compassion we do indeed have the potential to make some big changes for the better.”

Till says research shows our modern workplaces are often compassion-free zones populated with people who are constantly on the verge of burn-out, where interpersonal relationships are fractious and stressful and where staff turnover is likely to be very high.

Till says HRINZ will be working with Roffey Park to bring the model into greater prominence and currency in New Zealand.