Most business owners and executives wants to create a work environment that feels healthy and productive, but struggle to do so. Their websites proudly feature the company’s shared values that no one follows and the job postings are more aspirational than real. If you dig a little, you’ll find that almost every person whose been in the workforce for a while has experienced some form of “workplace trauma” where they’ve been lied to, bullied, burnt out, and basically treated so poorly that they’ve gone running for the hills. The reason is because many leaders expect that good people management will just happen as if by magic, and they fail to see that “the way it has always been done” has never been good enough.

But what if we actually do what we say we’re doing? What if we create workspaces that actively embody their values and truly support employees? What if we prioritise honesty, fairness, and caring, instead of fear and intimidation? What if we take proactive steps to do that by making sure all supervisors are provided with training on how to be good people managers? What if we are transparent with employees and ask for their input on things that affect them? What if we build inclusive and equitable systems that reduce bias and favouritism and all those other toxic workplace behaviours that drive people away?

It may sound idealistic, but it can be done. I know because I have spent the past 25 years working at it. It’s not magic, it’s just smart management.

Companies that don’t protect themselves from the effects of poor employment and management practices often find themselves at the wrong end of a tribunal judgement.

Here are just a few recent stories that show what can happen when supervisors aren’t appropriately prepared for their responsibilities and companies aren’t supported by knowledgeable HR advisors…