I recently wrote about how workplace culture isn’t a perk - it’s the secret sauce that turns a workplace from good to great. And I genuinely believe that kindness plays a huge part in that recipe.
With World Kindness Day coming up this November, it’s the perfect time to revisit the topic. Because in a world that often celebrates hustle, always-on, speed, and efficiency, kindness can sometimes be seen as soft or secondary. But in reality, kindness is a superpower, one that fuels culture, connection, and commercial success.
Kindness Means Business
At Wirex, I see the impact of kindness every day, in the way our teams support each other across time zones, how our leaders listen before reacting, and how our people step up when their fellow Wirexers need a hand. In a dispersed, remote-first organisation, these small moments of empathy and care make all the difference.
It’s not about being overly nice or avoiding tough feedback. It’s about showing respect, choosing curiosity over judgement, and remembering there’s a human behind every Teams message and email. Those seemingly small actions create the kind of psychological safety where innovation, honesty, and performance thrive.
The research backs it up too. McKinsey & Company calls empathy “a workplace superpower” and found that employees who feel understood are more innovative, engaged, and resilient. People Management recently highlighted that kindness contributes to healthier cultures and higher productivity, while Forbes described it as a brand advantage - “a culture of kindness is great for your brand.”
So yes, kindness isn’t just good for people - it’s good for business, and these articles are well worth a read if you want to explore this topic further.
Kindness in Action
Kindness in the workplace isn’t something you write in a values statement and file away. It’s something you live and breathe.
It’s taking a few extra minutes to check in with someone who seems quiet.
It’s giving constructive feedback with respect.
It’s saying thank you and really meaning it.
It’s keeping your word when you said you were going to do something.
It’s showing up when those around you need you.
Leaders play a huge role here. Being kind doesn’t mean lowering standards or avoiding accountability. It means holding people to high standards with humanity. It’s about leading with empathy, recognising effort, and creating space for people to bring their full selves to work.
At Wirex, kindness shows up in the small things that make a big difference, from our wellbeing programmes and WOW Factor employee recognition awards to simply making time to listen. These moments build trust, strengthen relationships, and make people feel they belong, even when they’re miles apart.
Kindness as a Culture, Not a Campaign
So, as World Kindness Day approaches, here’s a small challenge:
Take one intentional act of kindness this week.
Send that thank-you message. Ask how someone really is. Offer to help, even when it’s not your job.
Because when kindness becomes consistent, it becomes culture. And when kindness becomes culture, performance, creativity, and connection naturally follow.
At Wirex, kindness isn’t an initiative - it’s who we are.