Rudeness at work is contagious

摘要

Workplace incivility that flies under the radar is a major reason for employee dissatisfaction and should be treated seriously. Three psychologists at Lund University in Sweden surveyed nearly 6,000 people on the social climate in the workplace. They found that people imitate their rude colleagues, increasing the petty behavior to the point where it can trigger mental illness, reduce job satisfaction, hamper productivity, cause more conflicts and send staff to seek jobs elsewhere. "An important finding from our studies is that those who behave rudely in the workplace experience stronger social support, which probably makes them less afraid of negative reactions to their behavior from managers and colleagues," said psychology professor Martin Baeckstroem.