The Impact of Incivility in Companies

Take a look. Walk through your company’s corridors, aisles, kitchenette, cafeteria and pay attention to the conversations, body languages and facial expressions, production, quality and attendance. Now report what you saw. Did you notice how some departments interact more positive than others do? Working for a successful company with numerous departments, it is a wonder how some teams flourish and some struggle. Tasks and goals may be different. However, the culture should be the same, right? The level of incivility made a difference. The relationship of incivility and mental health affects an organization’s productivity and cost-efficiency.

Stress contributes to an employee’s mental health. According to the Surgeon General’s Report on Mental Health, Mental Health ‘refers to the successful performance of mental function, resulting in productive activities, fulfilling relationships with other people, and the ability to adapt to change and cope with adversity.” An increase in stress leads to many complications such as migraines, back pain, neck pain and lack of sleep. Before going further, I want to disclose that I do not think that all stress is bad. I do believe it is necessary. My argument is that stress experienced nearly every day has a negative impact on an employee’s ability to produce quality work and to work well with peers. I do believe that high levels of stress affect everyone surrounding the employee. An employee may take out the stress on family members. This may cause a strain at home. In turn, this will add to lower production level at work because the employee is now dealing with extreme work related stress and family stress. The cycle begins when that targeted family member takes that strain to...

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...he company suffers. Again, this negative affect can be avoided if management acknowledges the situation.

The top employees may not be happy everyday with their organization. However, employees who are happy most of the time with their employers will give forth a great effort. They will come to work with a pleasant attitude. They will work to meet their goals. They will actually care enough to produce ideas to benefit the company. The employees who are content most of time with their employer will be more loyal than the discontent employee will. The old saying states, “It is easier to catch a bee with honey than vinegar.” Stress creates incivility and incivility contributes to stress. Organizations must acknowledge that satisfied and respected employees in a less stressful workplace will contribute to a successful and cost-efficient establishment.