13 November is Kindness Day. With this in mind, and in light of the recent reports that a third of UK workers have been bullied, we look at how businesses and other organisations could embrace kindness this month and throughout the year.

In the news, there are reports that millions of people could have filled out their tax return wrongly because they were unable to get through to HMRC by phone. And 94% of people think there are barriers to taking up Shared Parental Leave.

Top news stories

Millions could have filled out tax returns wrong due to HMRC phone failures

Half of all calls to the taxman in the first six months of 2015 were not picked up, according to a report from Public Accounts Committee.

Living wage rate increased by 40p an hour

The UK's voluntary living wage will rise to £8.25 per hour, from its current rate of £7.85.

37% say financial constraints will prevent them from taking shared parental leave

Research by the Executive Coaching Consultancy found that 63% of respondents are interested in taking shared parental leave but 94% think there are barriers.

Small firms 'too casual over cyber threat'

Small and medium-sized enterprises risk being disqualified from bidding for work because of the lack of importance they are placing on looking after their client data, according to new research.

40% of bosses check-up on sick staff

Methods include phoning them to make sure they are sick (52%), checking social media posts (34%) and driving past their house (20%).

Key dates for your diary

27 November: Black Friday. Time to prepare.

30 November: Cyber Monday.

Spreading a little kindness in the workplace

Most of us spend 35 hours or more at work, so it’s important that we feel happy and valued there. But even in the most supportive workplaces, we might not be as kind as we could be. Whether we’re too busy, we’re under pressure or have just got used to our colleagues helping out, we might need a reminder to take the time to spread a little kindness.

The rise of concepts like Pay It Forward have seen people embrace opportunities to do something great for others. Why not use Kindness Day to focus on bringing that attitude to the workplace?

What you can do to make your workplace a kinder place

There are a number of things you could do - some are quick and easy, others which take a bit more commitment.

On the day

As the weather takes a turn for the worse, our moods can drop too. A little kindness can help cheer everyone along. Here are some ideas for the day itself:

• Raise money for charity: hold a sponsored event, a cake sale or other fundraising activity. It’s a great way to have fun and help others.
• Volunteer: why not get the team together to help out in the local community? Not only will you make a difference, it’s also positive PR for your business.
• Say thank you: it costs nothing but it can mean a lot. Think about people who make your working life easier and take a little time to say thanks.
• Include your clients and customers: don’t limit yourself to your team. Think about something great you could do for your clients, from a simple thank you note to a special offer.

For the long-term

Of course, your office should be a good place to work all of the time. Here are some steps you could take to ensure the kindness lasts beyond 13 November.

• Stop the gossip: in some companies, it’s a major issue, whether it’s talking about colleagues or guessing what’s happening with budgets and projects. But there are ways to minimise it. If you manage a team, make sure you share as much work information as you can, so everyone knows the facts rather than hearsay. And be firm about people who are gossiping about colleagues. Your HR advisor should be able to help if you need advice on how to handle it.
• Stamp out workplace bullying: this is an increasing issue in workplaces. Find out how to take action.
• Make sure staff get recognition for their work: it’s not just about addressing issues, it’s also about rewarding commitment. Make sure your staff get recognition for work well done. This could be formally, through employee of the month schemes, or informally in a team meeting or one-to-one.
• Think about staff rewards: Look at the rewards that your business offers. From free tea and coffee to duvet days, it’s a great way to spread a little happiness and can help with retention too.

Find out more

If you want to find out more, check out Kindness Day UK or Random Acts of Kindness.