I send a personal birthday card to every one of our employees. We often don't realize how much we can contribute to our employees' sense of recognition. Another way to treat people with dignity is to protect them against racial and other kinds of abuse. Particularly as people get started in the workplace, there's a tremendous amount of rivalry they face. Helping them to get properly trained and oriented is an extremely large part of determining whether that person is going to be successful.
Most companies have sick pay benefits.
There are times when employees just need a little time off to run errands or entertain family visitors or whatever. It's important for them to have some options, some power, to deal with the realities of their lives. That entitles them to use it for what they need. They don't have to lie about being sick and then get a doctor to write them a note saying they were sick. We think this adds dignity to their lives.