Workplace incivility is costing U.S. businesses $2.6 billion daily, and two organizations are now betting that small, daily acts of kindness can reverse that trend. SHRM, the HR authority, and Pass Kindness Forward have teamed up to launch the Global Workplace Kindness Challenge, a worldwide initiative that asks employers of all sizes and in every country to make civility a routine part of the workday.
The premise is deceptively simple: one person, one intentional act of kindness, every workday. That could mean thanking a colleague by name, listening without interrupting, disagreeing without disrespect, or stepping in when a teammate is overwhelmed. Small gestures, the organizers argue, can reshape how work actually feels.
Under the partnership, SHRM becomes the Founding Global Civility & Kindness Partner, and its President and CEO, Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., will serve as a Founding Global Civility & Kindness Ambassador. The challenge is built on the belief that civility is not merely a courtesy but a competitive advantage.
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Civility is a Business Issue
Incivility, SHRM stresses, is not a soft problem. The organization's Civility Index estimates that workplace rudeness and disrespect cost U.S. organizations roughly $2.6 billion each day in lost productivity and absenteeism. Behind that staggering figure are real people who dread meetings, avoid certain colleagues, or quietly begin searching for a new job. The challenge offers HR leaders a practical, low-barrier way to reverse that damage by reinforcing respect, collaboration, and well-being through repeatable behaviors rather than another top-down policy.
“Civility isn't a courtesy. It's a competitive advantage,” said Taylor. “People are bringing more tension to work than ever, and HR is uniquely positioned to improve the culture of all businesses around the world. This challenge turns SHRM's long-standing commitment to civility into something every workplace can act on tomorrow morning, one interaction at a time.”
“Businesses have always been recognized for the profits they generate. Imagine a world where they are equally celebrated for the kindness they inspire,” said Chin Yao, Founder of Pass Kindness Forward and Pásalo Pa'lante. “We are not asking businesses to choose between profitability and compassion. When people feel respected and valued, everyone benefits: employees, businesses, families, and communities.”
The goal: more than 1 billion acts of kindness
Pass Kindness Forward has set an overarching target of driving 1 billion acts of kindness worldwide from now until January 31. SHRM believes at least 20 million of those can happen specifically in workplaces. With nearly 340,000 members across 180 countries, SHRM's network touches the lives of more than 362 million workers and their families. If every SHRM member performed one intentional act of kindness each workday during Global Kindness Season, that alone would generate roughly 20 million civil moments. And if those 340,000 members inspire just 5% of their companies to adopt the movement, with every employee committing to one act per workday, the total would exceed 1 billion acts of kindness in the workplace alone.
How to Participate
Any organization can join, from family-run businesses to multinational corporations. Employers are encouraged to invite employees to commit to at least one intentional act of kindness each workday, recognize colleagues who help others, model civil and respectful communication from the top, support the SHRM Foundation as HR acts as a social force for good, and share their participation at PassKindnessForward.com.
SHRM will promote the challenge through its membership, chapters, volunteer leaders, and civility programming. The SHRM Foundation, the nonprofit arm of SHRM, connects the initiative to its broader mission of empowering HR as a force for social good. Three global synchronized moments—on Nov. 11, Dec. 21, and Jan. 27—will invite organizations everywhere to pause and act together.
From Puerto Rico To The World
The movement traces its roots to Pásalo Pa'lante, an initiative of Te Amo Puerto Rico. In November 2025, it mobilized communities across all 78 municipalities of Puerto Rico and recorded 1,135,096 acts of kindness in just five days. Now, Pass Kindness Forward is scaling that model globally through its inaugural 92-day Global Kindness Season, aiming for more than 1 billion acts of kindness across more than 195 countries. The Global Workplace Kindness Challenge is a cornerstone of that effort.
“Every business is a community of human beings,” said Yao. “Every employee has the power to make someone feel seen, respected, and appreciated. Imagine what could happen if businesses everywhere embraced that responsibility together.”
About SHRM
SHRM is a member-driven catalyst for creating better workplaces where people and businesses thrive together. As the trusted authority on all things work, SHRM is a leading expert, researcher, advocate, and thought leader on issues and innovations impacting today's evolving workplaces. With nearly 340,000 members in 180 countries, SHRM touches the lives of more than 362 million workers and their families globally. Learn more at SHRM.org.
About Pass Kindness Forward
Pass Kindness Forward is a global movement born in Puerto Rico through Pásalo Pa'lante, an initiative of Te Amo Puerto Rico. Its mission is to inspire more than 1 billion acts of kindness across more than 195 countries during Global Kindness Season, Nov. 1, 2026–Jan. 31, 2027. Learn more at PassKindnessForward.com.
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SHRM Eddie Burke, eddie.burke@shrm.org
Pass Kindness Forward / Te Amo Puerto Rico
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Why it matters: With workplace incivility costing U.S. organizations billions annually, this initiative reframes kindness as a measurable business strategy rather than a vague ideal. If even a fraction of SHRM's global membership adopts the challenge, the ripple effects could fundamentally shift how companies measure success—beyond profits and toward the daily experience of millions of employees.
