Empathy is the ability to share and understand others' emotions, and it is an essential skill for

leaders in any organization. Empathy can help leaders build trust, foster collaboration, and
motivate their employees. However, expressing empathy in the workplace can be challenging,
especially when there are different types of employees, such as permanent and contract
workers, who may have different expectations, motivations, and backgrounds.

Some government leaders have recognized the importance of empathy and have taken steps to
address the issue of creating a more empathetic culture in their organizations. For example:

- In 2019, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) launched a pilot program called the
**Empathy in Action Initiative**¹, which aimed to train federal managers and employees on how
to practice empathy in their daily interactions with colleagues, customers, and stakeholders. The
program included workshops, coaching sessions, and online resources on topics such as active
listening, emotional intelligence, and conflict resolution. The initiative was based on the premise
that empathy can improve employee engagement, customer satisfaction, and organizational
performance¹.
- In 2020, the Australian Public Service Commission (APSC) published a report called **Leading
with Empathy**², which explored the role of empathy in public sector leadership during the
Covid-19 pandemic. The report highlighted the benefits of empathy for leaders and their teams,
such as enhancing trust, resilience, and innovation. The report also provided practical tips and
examples on how to demonstrate empathy in different situations, such as communicating with
empathy, supporting employees' well-being, and adapting to changing needs².
- In 2021, the UK Civil Service launched a new learning platform called **Civil Service
Learning**³, which offered a range of courses and resources on various skills and topics for civil
servants. One of the courses was called **Empathy: Understanding Others**, which aimed to
help civil servants develop their empathy skills and apply them in their work. The course
covered the definition and benefits of empathy, the barriers and challenges to empathy, and the
strategies and techniques to practice empathy with different people and perspectives.

These are some examples of how government leaders have tried to address the issue of
expressing empathy in the workplace of permanent and contract employees. By investing in
empathy training and development, these leaders have shown their commitment to creating a
more inclusive, supportive, and productive work environment for all their employees.

Source:
(1) A Fair Way to Lead a Team of Contractors and Full-Time Employees.
https://hbr.org/2021/04/a-fair-way-to-lead-a-team-of-contractors-and-full-time-employees.
(2) Preventing Burnout Is About Empathetic Leadership - Harvard Business Review.
https://hbr.org/2020/09/preventing-burnout-is-about-empathetic-leadership.
(3) Making Empathy Central to Your Company Culture - Harvard Business Review.
https://hbr.org/2019/05/making-empathy-central-to-your-company-culture.