Workplace incivility

Workplace incivility has been defined as "low-intensity deviant behavior with ambiguous intent to harm the target....Uncivil behaviors are characteristically rude and discourteous, displaying a lack of regard for others" Incivility is distinct from violence. Examples of workplace incivility include insulting comments, denigration of the target's work, spreading false rumors, social isolation, etc.

Research findings
A summary of research conducted in Europe suggests that workplace incivility is common there. In research on more than 1000 U. S. civil service workers, Cortina, Magley, Williams, and Langhout (2001) found that more than 70% of the sample experienced workplace incivility in the past five years. Compared to men, women were more exposed to incivility; incivility was associated with psychological distress and reduced job satisfaction. The reduction of workplace incivility is a fertile area for further occupational health psychology research.

Subtle/covert examples
Examples at the more subtle end of the spectrum include:
 * giving somebody a "dirty look"
 * asking for input and then ignoring it
 * "forgetting" to share credit for a collaborative work.
 * speaking with a condescending tone.
 * interrupting others
 * not listening
 * waiting impatiently over someones desk to gain their attention.

Covert/overt examples
Somewhere between the extremes are numerous everyday examples of workplace rudeness and impropriety such as:
 * sending a nasty and demeaning note (hate mail)
 * making accusations about professional competence
 * undermining credibility in front of others
 * overruling decisions without giving a reason
 * disrupting meetings
 * giving public reprimands
 * talking about someone behind his or her back
 * giving the silent treatment
 * not giving credit where credit is due
 * giving dirty looks or other negative eye contact
 * insulting others.

Overt examples
More overt forms of incivility might include emotional tirades and losing one's temper.

Workplace incivility v workplace bullying
Workplace bullying overlaps to some degree with workplace incivility but tends to encompass more intense and typically repeated acts of disregard and rudeness. Negative spirals of increasing incivility between organizational members can result in bullying, but isolated acts of incivility are not conceptually bullying despite the apparent similarity in their form and content. In case of bullying, the intent of harm is less ambiguous, an unequal balance of power (both formal and informal) is more salient, and the target of bullying feels threatened, vulnerable and unable to defend himself or herself against negative recurring actions.

Books
ISBN section
 * Bunk JA The role of appraisals, emotions, and coping in understanding experiences of workplace incivility (2007)
 * Gallus JA Assertive coping with workplace incivility (2005)
 * Kelley S Dishonorable treatment: workplace incivility, cultures of honor (2007)
 * Kirk BA The role of emotional self-efficacy and emotional intelligence in workplace incivility and workplace satisfaction (2006)
 * Lee AYH Will workplace incivility result in work-family spillover?, Singapore Management University. School of Social Sciences (2008)
 * Liptrot G Experiences of workplace incivility: outcomes and moderating influences of coping style, social support and negative affect (2005)
 * Loi NM Sex differences in workplace incivility and sexual harassment: (2006)
 * Martin R Development and validation of the scale of workplace incivility (2004)
 * Milam AC Individual differences and perceptions of workplace incivility (2006)
 * Penney LM Workplace incivility and counterproductive workplace behavior (CWB): what is the relationship and does personality play a role? (2002)
 * Polson SC Examining who and why: testing a moderated mediational model of workplace incivility (2008)
 * Preston M Creating conflict: antecedents of workplace incivility (2007)
 * Riley RP Coping with workplace incivility: effects on retaliatory behaviors (2005)
 * Schmitt CM Examining the relationship between social allergens, counterproductive work behaviors, and workplace incivility (2006)
 * Settles RL Understanding the presence of workplace incivility in K-12 schools: perceptions and responses from teachers (2008)
 * Simmons DC Organizational culture, workplace incivility, and turnover: (2008)
 * Smith DJ Workplace incivility and emotional labor in hospital nurses (2007)
 * Windhorst SM Workplace incivility and the low-status target (2006)

Academic papers

 * Dion MJ The impact of workplace incivility and occupational stress on the job satisfaction and turnover intention of acute care nurses - April 2006
 * Hornstein HA Workplace incivility: An unavoidable product of human nature and organizational nurturing - Ivey Business Journal, November/December 2003
 * Hutton SA Longitudinal Study of Workplace Incivility in a Hospital - University of Cincinnatti 2008
 * Kain VJJM The Relationship between workplace incivility and strain: Equity sensitivity as a moderator - Bowling Green State University 2008
 * Lewis PS Workplace Incivility: Results of a Pilot Study 2009
 * Lim VKG, Chin JY Cyber Incivility at the Workplace: What has Supervisor's Sex got to do with It? - PACIS 2006 Proceedings, 2006
 * Linvill JS Surviving workplace incivility: The use of supportive networks as a coping strategy - Purdue University, 2008
 * Namie G Workplace bullying: Escalated incivility - Ivey Business Journal, 2003
 * Roberts SJ Incivility as a function of workplace favoritism and employee impulsivity - University of Nebraska at Omaha 2009
 * Shim JH, Park S Concept exploration of workplace incivility: Its Implication to HRD - University of Minnesota
 * Simmons DC Organizational culture, workplace incivility, and turnover: The impact of human resources practices - University of Louisville 2008
 * Taylor SG Cold Looks and Hot Tempers: Individual-Level Effects of Incivility in the Workplace 2010
 * Trudel J Workplace incivility: Relationship with conflict management styles and impact on perceived job performance, organizational commitment and turnover - University of Louisville 2009
 * Vickers MH Writing what's relevant: workplace incivility in public administration-a wolf in sheep's clothing - Administrative Theory & Praxis, March 1, 2006
 * Yang LQ, Spector PE, Zhang XC, Lin XH Occupational Stress among Chinese Service Workers: The Role of Workplace Incivility
 * Zauderer DG Workplace incivility and the management of human capital - The Public Manager, Spring 2002
 * Lim VKG, Chin JY Cyber Incivility at the Workplace: What has Supervisor's Sex got to do with It? - PACIS 2006 Proceedings, 2006
 * Linvill JS Surviving workplace incivility: The use of supportive networks as a coping strategy - Purdue University, 2008
 * Namie G Workplace bullying: Escalated incivility - Ivey Business Journal, 2003
 * Roberts SJ Incivility as a function of workplace favoritism and employee impulsivity - University of Nebraska at Omaha 2009
 * Shim JH, Park S Concept exploration of workplace incivility: Its Implication to HRD - University of Minnesota
 * Simmons DC Organizational culture, workplace incivility, and turnover: The impact of human resources practices - University of Louisville 2008
 * Taylor SG Cold Looks and Hot Tempers: Individual-Level Effects of Incivility in the Workplace 2010
 * Trudel J Workplace incivility: Relationship with conflict management styles and impact on perceived job performance, organizational commitment and turnover - University of Louisville 2009
 * Vickers MH Writing what's relevant: workplace incivility in public administration-a wolf in sheep's clothing - Administrative Theory & Praxis, March 1, 2006
 * Yang LQ, Spector PE, Zhang XC, Lin XH Occupational Stress among Chinese Service Workers: The Role of Workplace Incivility
 * Zauderer DG Workplace incivility and the management of human capital - The Public Manager, Spring 2002
 * Simmons DC Organizational culture, workplace incivility, and turnover: The impact of human resources practices - University of Louisville 2008
 * Taylor SG Cold Looks and Hot Tempers: Individual-Level Effects of Incivility in the Workplace 2010
 * Trudel J Workplace incivility: Relationship with conflict management styles and impact on perceived job performance, organizational commitment and turnover - University of Louisville 2009
 * Vickers MH Writing what's relevant: workplace incivility in public administration-a wolf in sheep's clothing - Administrative Theory & Praxis, March 1, 2006
 * Yang LQ, Spector PE, Zhang XC, Lin XH Occupational Stress among Chinese Service Workers: The Role of Workplace Incivility
 * Zauderer DG Workplace incivility and the management of human capital - The Public Manager, Spring 2002