ONE of the most heartwarming memories of Kuya Robert, a 51-year-old security guard at a public high school in Caloocan City, was when he received a plastic flower during the school’s Valentine’s Day celebration in 2019.

He recalled the soul-stirring moment with a smile painted on his face, saying he was astounded when a Grade 8 student went over to his post, handed him a plastic rose and a piece of chocolate candy, and greeted him a happy Valentine’s Day.

It was a first for him. 

“Kasi po hindi naman talaga madalas na may lalapit sa iyong bata para magbigay ng regalo kasi kung minsan nga hindi ka rin babatiin ng ‘good morning’ kung papasok sila ng eskwela,” Kuya Robert said. 

The security staffer also shared that for the first time in a while, he felt he was on equal footing with the other staff in the educational institution, who also received the same gift that he did.

“Hindi po ako nakatapos ng pag-aaral pero pakiramdam ko po no’n, kapantay ko po sila ma’am at sir na mayroon ding bulaklak no’ng Valentine’s,” he said.

Respecting everyone, including support staff

According to a study with 20,000 respondents conducted by Harvard Business Review, respect is one of the drivers of more significant work commitment, satisfaction, and engagement. 

When employees feel they are receiving the same respect as everyone regardless of the level of seniority, work environments become healthy, safe, and positive for everyone.

Discrimination in the workplace happens. This is no news, especially for positions deemed “lower” than the average worker. These often pertain to support staff such as security guards, janitors, maintenance workers, servers, and caretakers, to name a few. 

Often, they are mistreated because of the nature of their jobs. They are usually neglected and given a different amount of respect than everyone else.

However, it is pertinent to note that all employees, whatever their positions are, are business assets that help grow the company by contributing various products and services. They possess equal dignity and rights, so there is no reason for disrespect to take place.

Employees should also consider that support staff are business partners of the company they work in, just like other employees. They help their colleagues achieve company goals everyone shares and works hard to attain. 

Simple greeting, cleaning

There are many ways to show respect to support staff. One is a simple morning greeting or cleaning your areas before leaving the establishment.

Ate Janet, a 34-year-old janitress, really appreciates it when her co-workers in a public advertising firm dry the countertop after washing their hands.

“‘Yung mga simpleng pagpunas ng pasimano sa banyo pagkatapos nilang maghugas ng kamay, sobrang malaking tulong na ‘yon para sa mga kagaya kong janitress kasi nababawasan kahit papaano ‘yung mga ligpitin namin,” she told republicasia in an interview.

She also said that although it looks irrelevant, cleaning staff like her finds joy whenever she finds garbage in the waste bin properly segregated.

Through this, as per Ate Janet, she feels that her co-workers do not see her as inferior to them because they do not treat her as someone who’s working for them.

“Nakakatuwa pong isipin na mayroon po palang mga tao na hindi mababa ‘yung tingin sa’ming mga janitress, na mayroon po silang respeto sa trabaho namin at ‘di nila kami nakikita na parang utusan nila,” Janet said.

Importance of respect in the workplace

According to CDP Online College, showing respect to your work peers provides many benefits not only to the company but also to individuals.

Employees’ mutual respect towards each other helps reduce the stress, anxiety, and burdens individuals carry on their shoulders. It also increases collaboration and productivity because employees feel heard, regardless of the post they are holding.

More importantly, it eliminates workplace-induced harassment, bullying, and disagreement because people highly regard each other.

Mutual respect is one of the most important values that people must exhibit when interacting and working with others, regardless of the nature of their jobs, educational background, or social status.

As it creates a safer space for everyone, it also makes people feel that they are treasured, and they carry out essential tasks and functions in their workplace.

This is why it is essential to understand that we should treat each other as individuals we work with, not people who work for us.

After all, it costs nothing to respect and be kind to our peers.