Read an Excerpt ⬇
Play Nice addresses one of today's most hotly discussed topics in the workplace - sexual harassment: what it looks like, how to prevent it, and what to do about it.
We take things back to basics by applying the rules we all learned on the playground to the modern-day workplace, thus making clear to everyone what is and what isn't OK.
Play Nice is an indispensable resource - both for empowering those who wish to reassert their boundaries and for teaching allies how to help in this fight.
FOR AN AUTHOR SIGNED COPY, ORDER HERE
FOR AUTHOR SIGNED COPIES OF BOOKS 1 & 2 IN THE SANDBOX SERIES, ORDER HERE
Available at other booksellers:
THE GOALS OF PLAY NICE
It's time we took a trip back to the sandbox and review the rules of the playground. It’s time to revisit and modify our behavior.
Our goals for this book are to arm victims and bystanders with basic and simple tools to help deal with sexual harassment and violators in the work environment the very moment such behavior occurs. First, to empower the victim or target of sexual harassment to speak up and challenge the behavior; second, to embolden a bystander who witnesses sexual harassment to speak up for the victim or target and challenge the behavior on the spot; third, to offer companies and their leadership suggestions on how to handle victims and violators with the goal of improving company culture for a more prosperous and successful company; and fourth, to encourage more open discussion about the topic of sexual harassment at home, in schools, and at work, fostering greater awareness and to encourage participation for change.
For communication purposes, we equate the “playground” as the job and the “sandbox” as the work environment. We use “playground rules” to help communicate inappropriate behavior.
PRAISE FOR PLAY NICE
"Play Nice: Playground Rules for Respect in the Workplace
is a compelling, informative, and memorable book about a topic that is not openly discussed enough that compelled me to read as well as inform me from beginning to end!
PLAY NICE
is a book I was happy to discover because many people struggle with sexual harassment and don’t know how to tackle it, but
PLAY NICE
provides you with the tools to do just this and the result is an incredible and important book that shouldn’t be missed!
PLAY NICE is an incredible guide about sexual harassment and how to understand and combat it. In PLAY NICE, the wonderful author Brigitte Gawenda Kimichik, JD uses playground rules to address workplace sexual harassment, providing clear guidelines on what is and isn’t acceptable behavior. PLAY NICE effortlessly empowers individuals to recognize their rights and responsibilities, offering practical advice and personal experiences to foster a respectful work environment... PLAY NICE is an inspiring, enlightening, and informative book that will delight, entertain, and change people’s lives and so I have to award this stellar book five stars!"
"THE MISSION BEHIND PLAY NICE
PLAY NICE acts as a wake-up call for workplace respect and accountability. It focuses on the significance of proper behavior and the dangers of remaining a passive bystander. No matter the gender, the book provides actionable strategies to identify and challenge inappropriate actions—such as harassment or microaggressions—in real time. “Changing workplace culture starts with awareness and action,” Brigitte asserts. “This book [empowers] readers to stand up for themselves and others while maintaining professionalism.” Brigitte emphasizes the importance of educating men about the challenges women face at work: “Most men wouldn’t want their sisters, daughters, or mothers to experience inappropriate behavior at their jobs. By fostering awareness and action, we create environments where everyone feels respected.”
STROLL PRESTON HOLLOW FEBRUARY 2025
"PLAY NICE inspires hope for a future where workplaces are safer and more inclusive. It is an important resource for anyone navigating workplace dynamics and it is especially important for the younger generation, who are entering the workforce. They can be educated and empowered to act before problems get out of hand. I wish I had access to this excellent resource when I entered the workforce as a shy teenager. I would have been more empowered to handle inappropriate behavior in the workplace. “PLAY NICE” will help create and maintain a respectful and equitable work environment. In a world where change is desperately needed, this book will be a guide to help that happen."
"Finally ...a sensible approach to this important subject.
No drama, just skills that transcend and benefit us in both work n life. Thank you!"
"Great read! This book would be beneficial for men, woman, employer and employees."
"This is a very enlightening book. I have a daughter and two grand daughters. It continues to amaze me how misguided men can be. We are in the 2nd to 3rd inning of getting the changes that society needs with regard to the treatment of women."
"Valuable read for navigating the workplace. While the topic of sexual harassment in the workplace has moved to the open forefront in recent years, men and women are left trying to figure out how to deal with it on a practical level; how to act - and react - in the various situations in which a personal violation can arise. PLAY NICE provides an invaluable guide for individuals of all ages and across the gamut of work settings to properly assess a situation and take appropriate action. Chock full of interesting historical and statistical information, blended with practical guidance for handling different scenarios, PLAY NICE is an important work not to be missed by anyone navigating the workplace today."
Joanie & Bruce S.
"Great book! Gets right to the point and doesn’t sugar coat anything, will be sharing with friends."
"Very Practical Guide for Dealing with Work Place Gender Based Harassment. This wonderful book really brings home some of the issues that continue to be pervasive in our work places. Great read to learn more about the law and practical ways all of us can work to improve our work places where so much time is spent. Can't wait for the next book in the series."
“PLAY NICE is a timely ‘must-read’ that provides a unique approach for responding to sexual harassment. This book is definitely a conversation starter!”
"Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Play Nice: Playground Rules for Respect in the Workplace" is a timely and critically important contribution to our current and on- going national dialogue over how to deal with sexual harassment in the workplace."
Midwest Book Review,
“The Business Shelf”
“Play Nice is a lively and highly practical guide to optimizing the relationships between women and men in the workplace, as well as an indispensable tool for avoiding missteps and misunderstandings. The authors are entering the conversation at exactly the right moment.”
Jonathan Kirsch,
Attorney ,
Best-Selling Author, and National Book Critics Circle Member
“I am proud to have worked with an organization that has an unwavering commitment to integrity in all business operations. Part of this commitment is ensuring everyone has a safe, healthy, and respectful working environment. PLAY NICE is a spot-on guide to understanding and implementing this vitally important part of our corporate culture.”
William Geiler, Executive Vice President of Development, Hotel & Lodging Firm
“Brigitte Kimichik and JR Tomlinson have written a critical book full of practical tips on creating workplaces that are inclusive and respectful of women. PLAY NICE is an instrument of change.”
Sharon Orlopp,
CHRO,
Core Scientific,
a Tech Start-Up, and Retired Global Chief Diversity Officer at
Walmart
“This is a must-read for any human resources executive, any woman embarking on her professional career, and any bystander (male or female) who is not sure what to do when faced with bad behavior.”
Joel L. Ross,
Former General Counsel of Trammell Crow Company and Retired Partner of Vinson & Elkins LLP
“It is a go-to account of legal changes as well as watershed moments that open our eyes to the ubiquitous nature of sexual harassment. A must-read for women of all ages, recognizing that although we have come a long way, we have not come far enough!”
“For real change to occur, it is imperative that we all start holding ourselves responsible for ensuring everyone is treated respectfully. PLAY NICE is a giant step in the right direction. This book should be mandatory reading for all organizations and parents!”
Vanessa Fox
Corp. VP, Chief Development Officer,
Jack in the Box
"For all the talk about the #MeToo and Time’s Up movements, there is still little practical information available to help a woman beat back sexual harassment—until now. PLAY NICE is chock full of smart, strategic advice to help anyone suffering from toxic behavior in the workplace. When you finish this book, you will realize that equal rights for women is not some far-off ideal but a reality that that soon can be achieved."
Skip Hollandsworth Executive Editor, Texas Monthly
“In the heat of today’s #MeToo Movement, one of the most hotly discussed topics is sexual harassment in the workplace.
Play Nice is an indispensable resource—both for empowering those who wish to reassert their boundaries and for teaching allies how to help.”
Publisher’s Weekly
#StevosBusinessBook of the Week: Play Nice: Playground Rules for #Respect in the #Workplace by @KimichikB @BrownBooks https://t.co/UuxoB6tfgN #AmazonInfluencer #metoo #harassment #HR https://t.co/RChNN098j3 pic.twitter.com/xTrR1jp6sh
— Steve Brock (@Stevo4747) September 30, 2019