Uncivil behavior in offices rising

Workplace incivility is on the rise, and researchers say that even small uncivil acts can make a huge impact in the productivity of the employees.

When incivility happens it can affect a large number of employees to impact productivity and eventually a company’s bottom line.

Micro-aggression, as an uncivil act is also termed, has been cited as a major cause of employee turnover, poor workplace climate, and job dissatisfaction.

‘When we think about incivility, we think about something major, but it doesn’t have to be,’ said Jia Wang, associate professor at Texas A&M University in the US.

‘Most of the time it’s the little things accumulated in your daily life that make a huge impact,’ said Wang.

‘Many people experience incivility, but they choose not to speak up because they need the job,’ Wang further stated.

To make a change in the workplace, leaders should develop behavior statements and brainstorm about what they would consider uncivil.

Leaders should take a look at their own actions and determine if they are being civil to their employees. The leadership team should be willing to engage in conversations with colleagues and also take their feedback, Wang said.

The way to go as per Wang is to make small daily changes such as starting a meeting to discuss bad behavior and recognize good ones!