If you’re looking for the latest statistics on kindness at work, you’ve come to the right place!
We know how hard it is to find good stats on this topic online, so we made this list with YOU in mind. We combed through thousands of studies and articles on kindness and compiled them into one comprehensive list that’ll tell you everything you need to know about what makes people nice at work (and what doesn’t).
We know how frustrating it can be to try to find that one stat that helps make your case. You’ve probably spent hours scrolling through Google, reading blog posts, and clicking on links to news stories in hopes of finding the right numbers to back up your argument. You may even have given up entirely and gone back to your old ways: being kind but not having any data to prove it.
But you don’t have to be stuck in that rut anymore! We’ve compiled the most promising kindness at work statistics into one easy-to-read list, so you can stop wasting time searching for information and get back to doing what you love most: showing compassion to others.
We’ve got stats on everything from employee engagement levels and workplace satisfaction to job satisfaction and productivity levels—and everything else in between!
Empowering Kindness at Work Statistics For a Better 2022 (Editor’s Choice)
- Only 60% of young employees feel that they work in a place where people are kind.
- 74% of young workers want to work in a kind work environment.
- 1 in 4 young workers has experienced unkindness in the workplace.
- 74% of young workers think that managers checking in with their team is an important aspect of fostering kindness in the workplace.
- Teams working in a kind workplace are 30% more motivated.
- 64% of young people who work in a kind workplace value their job and career.
- Only 52% of young Black people can say they’re at a workplace where people are kind to them.
- LGBTQ+ young workers are more prone to unkind behavior in the workplace than those who are non-LGBTQ+.
General Kindness at Work Statistics
1. Only 60% of young employees feel that they work in a place where people are kind.
(Born This Way Foundation)
Although workplace kindness is highly important and valued, it’s not always the norm. Six out of ten young workers work in such an environment. On the other hand, 4% work in places where people are deliberately unkind, and 36% work in a neutral workplace, where people are neither kind nor unkind.
When comparing white employees with people of color, only 56% of BIPOC (Black, indigenous, people of color) employees experience kindness in the workplace, while 62% of white employees experience it.
2. 74% of young workers want to work in a kind work environment.
(Born This Way Foundation)
Particularly, Millenials and Gen Z employees understand the value of kindness and mental health at work. However, despite this overwhelming majority, only 32% of employees are working in a company where mental health days are paid and provided.
Employees are becoming more aware of the importance of kindness in the workplace, and outdated measures aren’t going to cut it anymore. Businesses have to cater to this growing need.
3. 77% of applicants are likely to apply for a job ad that emulates kindness as an important company value.
(Born This Way Foundation)
Kindness not only helps companies retain employees but also helps them recruit applicants as well. When job seekers notice a job ad that implies kindness in the workplace, they’re more likely to respond and apply.
In this difficult job market where employers are struggling to retain their employees, workplace kindness is becoming more relevant and important than ever.
4. 1 in 4 young workers has experienced unkindness in the workplace.
(Born This Way Foundation)
Unkind behavior in the workplace is second on the list of workplace challenges young people face; the first is the lack of adequate staff (28%). With so many young employees facing upsetting encounters in the workplace, it’s highly important to foster kindness at work.
Whether the unkind behavior was done explicitly, carelessly, or thoughtlessly, this statistic shows that there is a lot of room for companies to grow and be proactive in creating better work communities.
What Aspects of Workplace Kindness Are Important?
5. 74% of young workers think that managers checking in with their team is an important aspect of fostering kindness in the workplace.
(Born This Way Foundation)
Members of a team feel valued if managers check in on them from time to time to ask if they need any help. This goes to show that fostering workplace kindness isn’t only about throwing money around, it’s about the simple actions that have a huge impact on people.
All in all, workplace kindness is about being there for, investing in, validating, and showing up for your coworkers.
6. 64% of young workers think that colleagues greeting each other at the beginning of the workday is an important act of workplace kindness.
(Born This Way Foundation)
Even just the simple act of smiling or greeting someone can have a tremendous impact on their day, and statistics say so.
In addition to something as simple as this, young workers also value companies greeting their employees on their birthday (59%), colleagues making time to talk about their personal lives (54%), and colleagues supporting each other during times of grief or loss.
7. It’s most important for young people that their direct manager shows them kindness at work.
(Born This Way Foundation)
Workplace kindness should come from every direction. However, young employees expect it more from direct managers than from anyone else. Nearly eight out of ten young employees think that it’s important for their direct manager to show them kindness.
Additionally, 76% expect it from their senior leaders and coworkers, and 73% think it’s important for other managers and direct reports to be kind. Only 72% think it’s important for customers and clients to be kind.
Benefits of Kindness at Work Statistics
8. Recipients of kindness at work are 278% more likely to pay it back compared to those who didn’t receive kindness.
(APA)
A study was conducted in 2018 about the effects of prosociality in the workplace. In the study, people labeled as “givers” were asked to perform five acts of kindness for certain people labeled as the “receivers” over the course of four weeks.
By the end of the study, the receivers were noted to be happier and inspired to pay back the kindness they received. This helped create a more positive workplace overall.
9. Teams working in a kind workplace are 30% more motivated.
(Workhuman)
Kindness can impact organizations and employees positively, so it’s important for leaders to look into it.
Teams that work in respectful and kind workplaces are 26% more energetic than those who work in opposite workplaces. When teams are exposed to kindness, they’re more energized, so they’re also more productive.
10. Employees in a kind work environment are reported to have 36% more job satisfaction.
(Workhuman)
In addition to driving up productivity, kindness in the workplace increases employee engagement and morale.
When employees are more engaged and participate at work, they’re also more satisfied and happy with their jobs. This will then help increase employee retention, which can financially benefit companies.
11. A work environment that fosters kindness increases employee commitment by 44%.
(Workhuman)
The new generation of workers want to work in companies whose values align with theirs, and for a majority of workers, having a positive work environment is more important than a huge salary. Kindness helps employees be more committed to the company they work in.
What does this mean exactly? It means employees want to stay in their company and are not actively seeking other employment.
12. 64% of young people who work in a kind workplace value their job and career.
(Born This Way Foundation)
Although a huge majority (56%) of young people state that their work is important to them, this percentage increases when the workplace is kind (64%) and prioritizes mental health (71%).
This serves as a reminder for employers to create a kind workplace where workers are valued, respected, and affirmed, not just because it helps employees find value in what they do but also because it’s the right thing to do.
Kindness at Work Demographics
13. LGBTQ+ young workers are more prone to unkind behavior in the workplace than those who are non-LGBTQ+.
(Born This Way Foundation)
Young members of the LGBTQ+ community are more likely to go through negative workplace encounters compared to their non-LGBTQ+ peers. In particular, 32% of LGBTQ+ young employees experience unkind behavior at work, while only 23% of their non-LGBTQ+ peers do.
What exacerbates this statistic is that 74% of LGBTQ+ young workers don’t know where to look for mental health resources to help them understand their identity and life experience.
14. Only 52% of young black people can say they’re at a workplace where people are kind to them.
(Born This Way Foundation)
On the other hand, 2% of them say that they work in an unkind work environment, and 46% work in a neutral workplace.
Young black employees are among the employees experiencing the least kindness at work, followed by LGBTQ+(56%), High School (57%), and Latinx (60%).
(Born This Way Foundation)
Sharing your pronouns reduces the likelihood of misgendering or using the wrong pronouns when calling someone. This act of workplace kindness is not only important to a vast majority of young LGBTQ+ workers, but it’s also important to 56% of overall young workers as well.
Sharing your pronouns can also signal to LGBTQ+ members that you’re an ally.
Related Questions (FAQ)
Why is kindness important in a workplace?
Kindness is important for everyone, especially for organizations. In a workplace environment where kindness is fostered, it becomes the norm and spills over pretty fast. When an employee receives kindness, research shows they’ll likely pay it back—to whoever they wish to, not just the person who was kind.
What will be the effect of kindness in the workplace?
Employees who are kind and receive kindness at work usually have higher job satisfaction. Kindness creates a positive work environment where employees are happy, and teams are likely to work better together. In addition to job satisfaction, kindness also increases employee engagement, which decreases turnover.
How can you spread kindness at work?
It doesn’t require much effort to spread kindness and good vibes at work. Some of the things leaders can do are showing gratitude, recognizing everyone’s accomplishments, supplying healthy snacks, and giving positive feedback. It can even be as simple as smiling and greeting people at the office.
What does kindness mean to employees?
Workplace kindness means consideration, generosity, and friendliness to employees. According to studies, almost 79% of workers are stressed during workdays. Stress causes a worker to be less effective and productive. Kindness can help alleviate this stress and create a positive work environment.
Why is kindness so powerful?
Kindness can help make a place happier. It can make people feel more confident, happy, optimistic, and in control. If someone receives a random act of kindness, they’re also likely to pass that kindness along to others, contributing to building a more positive space for everyone.
Conclusion
We’ve covered a lot in this article, ranging from the basics of kindness and how it can improve employee productivity to tips on how to create more inclusive workplaces.
Whether you’re an employer looking to increase morale and engagement within your workforce or an individual who wants to do their part in creating a kinder society, we hope that these stats have provided you with helpful resources and insights.
Remember, kindness at work fosters collaboration, improves morale, and elevates productivity — so make sure to spread some cheer around the office!
Thanks for taking the time to read, and feel free to leave any thoughts or feedback via email!
Until next time, keep being kind!
24 Peer Pressure Statistics To Keep You From Being Fooled
21 Honesty Statistics That Reveal Our True Colors
35 Workplace Loneliness Statistics (The Problem Is Real)
14 Diversity Training Statistics To Disrupt The Workplace