Examples of uncivil workplace behavior include making demeaning remarks, ignoring, and hostile looks. Results of public polls suggest that incivility at work is increasing, with four out of five employees viewing disrespect and a lack of courtesy as a serious problem.51 Nearly three out of five believe that the problem of workforce incivility is getting worse. A poll of 800 workers found that 10% witnessed incivility daily, and 20% said that they personally were the direct targets of incivility at least once per week.52 Another study of 603 nurses found 33% had experienced verbal abuse in the previous 5 days.53 The source of incivility can be supervisors, coworkers, or customers.54 The rise of incivility may be due to the increasing rates of change; people don’t have the time to be “nice” anymore. Another explanation is generational differences; the “me generation” is focused more on their own concerns and lacks respect for others.55 Workplace incivility has been linked to outcomes for individuals and the organization. For example, a study conducted in a large publicsector organization found workplace incivility is related to sexual harassment and that both were detrimental to female employees’ wellbeing.56 When employees experience incivility, they respond in various ways, including losing work time to avoid the uncivil person, decreasing their effort, thinking about quitting, and leaving the job to avoid the instigator.57 Workplace incivility predicts burnout, which in turn predicts employees’ intentions to quit.58 In response to this growing concern, organizations are beginning to set zero-tolerance expectations for rude and disrespectful behavior at work.59 Others are even implementing training in proper etiquette for managers.60 A research study found that leaders can be proactive in reducing workplace incivility by taking actions such as conveying the policies available in the organization for preventing aggression incidents between employees, encouraging employees to keep them updated regarding signs of potential coworker-initiated aggression, and assigning a victim of incivility to work with different coworkers.61 Workplace incivility needs to be addressed to reduce the personal and professional impact on employees, and leaders need to take a proactive role to prevent it....

Discussion Questions

 1. Provide an example of an incident you witnessed or experienced that was rude and discourteous, displaying a lack of regard for others. This can be an example you or another person at work or school experienced.

2. How did the experience of incivility (previously described) make you feel? What did you do about it?

3. Which source of workplace incivility do you feel is most harmful and why (supervisors, coworkers, or customers)?