Webster's dictionary defines empathy as “the action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and experience of another of either the past or present without having the feelings, thoughts, and experience fully communicated in an objectively explicit manner.”

To put it in layman's terms empathy allows one to relate to the situation circumstance or everyday being of someone else. A person who can express empathy generally can take into account another’s feelings or emotions without excessive judgment.  

What about the empathy in the workplace? Is empathy an important workplace trait?  Some experts contend that an empathic leader can transform a workplace, increase productivity, and morale. But what do the Human Resource pros on the ground think? 

To answer that question HR Daily Wire reached out to Steve Browne, executive director of human resources for LaRosa's pizzeria chain to discuss empathy in the modern workplace. Browne has more than 20 years in the profession and runs an Internet message board for HR pros.

Q. What is empathy as it relates to the workplace and is it important?

A. I think empathy is a daily factor within the workplace because when you're dealing with people they're going to bring their emotions and their lives to work. So, understanding them in their situations -- empathy -- is key to understanding them for who they are because that's important. You can't try to make them someone they aren't. Empathy is absolutely important.  I think you need to have somebody be heard and acknowledged. You may not be able to handle all their needs or address all their needs, but to hear what they're facing is essential.

Q. Beyond workers and teammates Is it important for managers and corporate leaders to be empathetic to do their jobs?

Yes, I think because of a few reasons. One, dealing with the team members that they're working with. They either work within the department or the other departments, as well as especially at an office level. They do have exposure to guests or customers or vendors. And empathy is a strong skill they have that you can utilize in almost every situation.

I find that most people tend to communicate and work with people at their own level. So, I wouldn't say that the CEO doesn't have empathy or he may have empathy or she may have empathy for people that they tend to work with more often than I have to do it for my entire organization.

Q. With the recent headline regarding inappropriate behavior in the workplace, it sometimes seems that a higher value is placed on aggression and attitude in today’s corporate environment. 

Sure. I think it's a great question. I think the issue is culture, not just empathy. If you establish a culture where you know individualism and collaboration are important, empathy will be more natural. In some cultures, it's more hierarchy and structure and you have to go through layers and layers of people to get to somebody. It's easy to see how somebody who's at a senior level may not have as much empathy for someone on their front line. It's not right or wrong. It's just a matter of how they're currently structured.

Q. Are there certain traits or behaviors that you can see in a person that says, "Hey, this person is sympathetic" as opposed to someone else?

A. Well, that's tough. I think either it's like beauty's in the eye of the beholder. I think there needs to be two sides. Some people are sympathetic, like "Woe is me. Hear me about everything and everything is a black cloud." It doesn't mean that you can't talk to that person, but organizationally there are like, "Hey, I can do this for you. I can't do this for you." Organizations can't meet everybody's needs. They can provide a good work environment, a safe work environment and an environment where a person is genuinely heard and valued. That's empathy.