What specific aspects of uncivil behavior are most prevalent within the workplace?
Incivility in the workplace involves anything that lacks respect for a coworker’s time and space. This may include speaking in a loud voice on the phone when you share a cubicle, or entering an office without knocking, or sitting on someone’s desk and glancing at his or her computer screen. In addition to the harm that may come from negative behavior such as gossiping about someone or spreading rumors, incivility can encompass a failure to observe the simplest rules of elementary good manners—for instance, not saying good morning or good night, or not treating those with whom you work on a daily basis with the same level of cordiality that you greet others from another department when they show up in your workspace. Anything that leaves an employee feeling left out could also be deemed an act of incivility. In this regard, not inviting someone to an important meeting that impacts his or her job, or not sharing critical data with team members who could use the information to enhance the
