CIVILITY IN THE WORKPLACE

Marilyn Shaw

Department of Communication Studies

University of Northern Iowa

EXAMPLES

After the West Des Moines Valley High School principal decreed that there be no grinding at school dances, fake Twitter accounts were created pretending to be him, saying lewd and anti-semitic things. The principal’s wife is Jewish.

A Rhode Island state representative called a 16-year-old girl an “evil little thing” for successfully challenging the constitutionality of a prayer posted in her school.

• Basu: Break from the pack, show civility• Des Moines Register, 4/07/12

CIVILITY DEFINED

Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines civility “as a polite act of expression.”

Civility is a form of awareness that lies in the realm of ethics (Forni, 2002).

It references consciously motivated behavior (Peck, 1993).

It describes the requirements for citizenship and represents attitudes and actions designed to create balance between personal needs and desires and public interest (Peck, 2002).

It includes sacrifice, generosity, morality, gratitude, obligation, respect, communication, trust, duty, and a firm resolve to correct that which is wrong, which includes issues of social justice (Carter, 1998).

Civility in being mindful of the dignity of the human beings in your sphere at all times (Gonthier, 2002).

It is central to any discussion regarding order (Peck, 1993) and references “consciously motivated organizational behavior”(p. 5).

It also involves our attitudes toward others.

It is not just an attitude of benevolence and thoughtfulness to others, but also an active interest in the well‐being of our communities and the environment (Forni, 2002).

INCIVILITY IS…

Incivility is defined as being rude, inconsiderate, disrespectful, and not maintaining appropriate demeanor in public (Phillips & Smith, 2003).

Types of incivility include physical, social, and invisible. Invisible forms may violate community norms, but are not as easily recognized (Twale& De Luca, 2008)

CAUSES OF RUDENESS

According to the Iowa State University Extension forum “Civility in the Workplace.” rudeness occurs because:

• Individualism and lack of restraint• Low self-worth• Materialism• Injustice• Stress• Anonymity• Anger• Fear• Mental health problems

• May, 5,2009

RUD EN ESS TO BUL LY ING IN ACADEME

Bullying is sometimes perceived to be lower intensity and therefore somehow not as bad as harassment or discrimination (Cassell, 2011).

The Bullying of Academics in Higher Education blog begins with the following quote:

• The bullying of academics follows a pattern of horrendous. Orwellian elimination rituals, often hidden from the public. Despite the anti-bullying policies (often token), bullying is rife across campuses, and the victims (targets) often pay a heavy price. ‘Nothing strengthens authority as much as silence.’ Lenardo da Vinci—’All that is necessary for evil to succeed is that good men [or women] do nothing.’ Winston Churchill.

WHAT IS BUL LY ING”

A Washington State Department of Labor and Industries discuss the following bullying behaviors:

• Unwarranted or invalid criticism• Blame without factual justification• Being treated differently than the rest of your work group• Being sworn at• Exclusion or social isolation• Being shouted at or being humiliated• Being the target of practical jokes• Excessive monitoring

KEASHLY AND NEWMAN RESEARCH

Additional behaviors• Glaring in a hostile manner• Treating in a rude/disrespectful manner• Interfering with work activities• Giving the ‘silent treatment’• Giving little or no feedback on performance• Not giving praise to which an individual feels entitled• Failure to give information needed• Delaying actions on matters of importance to an individual• Lying• Preventing an individual from expression oneself

MOBBING

Dr. Heinz Leymann—”hostile and unethical communication which is directed in a systematic manner by one or more individuals mainly toward one individual, who, due to mobbing, is pushed into a helpless and defenseless position and held there by means of continuing mobbing activities. (Leymann, n.d.).

IN ACADEMIA

Dr. Ken Westhues, 2009 research suggests:

Mobbing targets usually excel

Interestingly, according to the Workplace Bullying Institute

• 1.6% of bullies lost their jobs, whereas• 31.3% of victims lost their jobs as a result of layoff,

termination, or quitting and an additional 12.3% of victims suffered psychological injury resulting in lost work time

Impact on Professor• Stress• Depression• Suicidal thoughts• Reduced self-esteem• Self blame• Phobias• Sleep disturbances• Digestive problems• Muscoskelatal problems• Social isolation• Family problems• Post traumatic stress disorder

• Cassell, 2011

IMPACT

Impact on Department/University

• Inability to attract new hires• Dysfunctional work

environment• Medical and workers’ comp.

claims• Decreased productivity• Decreased employee morale• Decreased loyalty• Acts of sabotage/revenge• Absenteeism• Lawsuits

• Cassell, 2011

WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT?

Three factors as to why bullying in academe is present;

Insufficient legal recourse/deterrent

Leadership

Nature of academe

THREE COMPONENTS TO STOP BULLYINGI O WA S TAT E E X T E N S I O N,

1 0 , 1 9 , 2 0 0 7

An internal, loophole-free policy to specifically address workplace bullying

Enforcement procedures to implement the policy and provide personal and organizational accountability

A plain to train and educate all employees, supervisors, and administrators

FINALLY, NICK’S STORY