Page 44 - Management Digest Udyama Vol 1 Isuue 2

Meaning of have developed or articulated Consequences of Workplace
Workplace Incivility norms and values such as caring Incivility
for others, equality, respect that
serve as the moral standards
Workplace incivility is a “low- to guide the behaviours of Workplace incivility is not a new
intensity deviant behaviour in a individuals. Thus, violations phenomenon in organizations.
workplace with ambiguous intent of those norms and values Coupled with the literary
to harm the target, violating the are considered to be uncivil evidence, the facts and figures
social norm of mutual respect” behaviours. Some of the examples around incivility paint a
(Andersson & Pearson, 1999, p. for workplace incivility are; not compelling view of negative
457). It is worthy of unpacking saying ‘please’, ‘thank you’, consequences for individuals
the contents of the definition of talking down to others, making and organizations. For instance,
workplace incivility in order to demeaning remarks, failure to investigations reveal that nearly
understand its uniqueness. First, appreciate others for a job well 98% of the workforce is impacted
workplace incivility does not done, not returning emails or by such behaviours.
seem to have considerable harm phone calls, disrupting others in
to the victims or organizations meetings, and unwanted verbal Most of the employees experience
compared to high-intensity comments, actions, or gestures. or witness these behaviours in
deviant behaviours such as Succinctly, workplace incivility day-to-day life, and there is a
aggression, sexual harassment, is a mild deviant behaviour tendency to compound little
physical violence, and bullying. that seems less harmful but can behaviours over time that make
Consequently, those uncivil violate dignity and respect at a huge impact. Take a scenario
behaviours might not receive work, leading to a burdensome of someone is consistently being
considerable attention as much experience for both individuals humiliated by another in an
as the above mentioned high- and organizations. organization. The person might
intensity deviant behaviours
just because those seem not to
be harmful or less harmful at
the superficial level. Second, it
is unclear that the perpetrator
(a person who instigated the
uncivil behaviour) initiated
uncivil behaviour has a conscious
intention to harm the target.
For instance, behaviours such
as withholding necessary
information, freezing out,
ignoring or excluding, and
persistent attempts to belittle
or undermine someone’s work
cannot be exactly interpreted
as the behaviours instigated by
someone purposefully to harm
another person. However, it does
not mean that the harm will not
occur because the perpetrator has
no conscious intention to harm the
target. Third, workplace incivility
involves the violation of the social
norm of mutual respect. There is
an accepted social norm that the
organizational participants should
be treated respectfully regardless
of their status, educational level,
race, or other socially constructed
categories. Also, organizations

42 September 2021