Workplace Incivility on the Rise

The second annual Civility in America poll conducted by Weber Shandwick and Powell Tate in partnership with KRC Research should come as no surprise. Sixty-five percent(65%)of Americans say incivility is a major problem affecting all aspects of American life—-government, schools, the workplace, business, and the internet.  More disturbing is that no one sees this improving. In fact, fifty-five percent(55%) expect the situation to deteriorate further over the next few years.

So what is incivility?  In the simpliest terms it is rudeness, insults, and just plain bad manners.

The workplace does not fare well in this study.  Four in ten Americans (43%) have experienced incivility at work.  Almost as many(38%) beleive that the workplace is becoming more uncivil and disrespectful than a few years ago. So who or what is to blame for this behavior?  Survey respondents named:

*Leadership of the workplace  (65%)

*Employees themselves  (59%)

*Economy (46%)

*Competitveness in the workplace (44%)

*Younger employees  (34%)

*Access to the Internet  (25%)

Lack of employee rights  (24%)

*Older employees  (6%)

In response to this growing trend, the majority of Americans (67%) believe there is a need for civility training in the workplace. Or maybe before  we do that,  Americans  need to be  continually reminded of the Golden Rule. 

This poll was conducted in May 2011 using an online survey of 1,000 U.S. adults.