.floatimg-left-hort { float:left; } .floatimg-left-caption-hort { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:300px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-vert { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right:15px; width:200px;} .floatimg-left-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; font-size: 12px; width:200px;} .floatimg-right-hort { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px;} .floatimg-right-caption-hort { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px; font-size: 12px; } .floatimg-right-vert { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px;} .floatimg-right-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; font-size: 12px; } .floatimgright-sidebar { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; border-top-style: double; border-top-color: black; border-bottom-style: double; border-bottom-color: black;} .floatimgright-sidebar p { line-height: 115%; text-indent: 10px; } .floatimgright-sidebar h4 { font-variant:small-caps; } .pullquote { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 150px; background: url(http://www.dmbusinessdaily.com/DAILY/editorial/extras/closequote.gif) no-repeat bottom right !important ; line-height: 150%; font-size: 125%; border-top: 1px solid; border-bottom: 1px solid;} .floatvidleft { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatvidright { float:right; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;}
This is a subject I have put quite a bit of thought into. For the last decade or so, I have been a manager of people. I am always thinking about retention, and wondering if I am doing everything I can to keep my employees engaged in their jobs. I also come from California, where political correctness is the theme of every management training session.

I have noticed that in employers’ zeal to not offend anyone, they have sucked the life out of the work environment. I admit Iowa is not nearly as bad as what I experienced in California. Still, I would bet there are some organizations here that take things to what I would consider an unhealthy level.

When thinking about political correctness and retention, you can’t help noticing that political correctness is about changing patterns of behavior. Unfortunately, the behavior patterns are changed out of fear and not out of a desire to not offend or whatever the original intention. In other words, people are afraid of saying or doing the wrong thing because the human resources department will come down on them. So the employees’ motive for change goes beyond the basic rule that was set forward by HR – simply because a sense of fear takes it to the next level.

For example, if you are told not to ask anyone about their religious beliefs or activities, at some point you will probably end up trying to to refrain from any real personal conversation for fear that religion or some other taboo subject might come up. And if it does, you have to run from it immediately and shut down the conversation. So as human nature would predict, eventually you avoid all personal subjects in conversation beyond the very basic.

Regarding retention, the downside is that it keeps managers from getting to know their employees and care about them on a personal level. Some people may say, “Work is work, home life is home life, and never the two shall meet.” But the truth is that people like people who care about them, and it is difficult to care about or know someone from only superficial conversations. We all want to be wanted, and we all want to be cared about, and that doesn’t stop when you walk into work each day.

I don’t believe people want to be work drones. It is hard to retain people who feel they are taken for granted or not cared about on a personal level. I think in the workplace political correctness has taken the heart and soul out of work, which makes it hard for people to be passionate and motivated workers.

How do I know this? What makes me think it will get to that extreme? I know because the quotation above is from me and was my mantra while working in California. I used to repeat it to people often and unapologetically. So, I am currently trying to reform my own bad habits and take a larger interest in those who work for me. Not for the sake of profit or retention, but for the sake of the employee.

Nick Reddin is business development manager for Manpower Inc.’s Des Moines office.