Rebuilding Workplace Civility Starts with Leadership

Workplace civility is declining, and organizations must respond intentionally because disrespect damages culture, performance, and employee retention.  Research from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) found that 76% of U.S. workers have witnessed or experienced acts of incivility, a figure that has steadily increased in recent years. This growing lack of civility is deeply concerning.  Snarky emails, rude interruptions, and even hostile behavior have become increasingly common in many workplaces.  

                  Civility requires every individual to take responsibility for how they treat others.  Individuals need to learn to: 

• Disagree without being disrespectful
• Show empathy without enabling bad behavior
• Call out incivility when it occurs — no matter who it comes from
• Set the tone of civility in your language and your actions

                  Civility is not simply about being nice; it is about accountability, self-awareness, and recognizing the impact our words and actions have on others.  Rebuilding civility requires individuals to make intentional choices every day about how they communicate, respond to conflict, and contribute to workplace culture.  Meaningful change will only happen when people at every level are willing to model the respect they expect from others. 

Several forces are helping drive the increase in workplace incivility. 

• Socio-political tensions: Deep divisions in society do not disappear when people enter the workplace.  When political or social disagreements surface, respectful dialogue can quickly give way to hostility. 
• Burnout and layoffs:   Employees who are overworked, stressed, or worried about job security often have less emotional capacity, making conflict more likely and patience harder to maintain. 
• Return-to-office friction:  As organizations continue to push for more in-office work, some employees feel unheard or frustrated, which can create tension between coworkers and leadership.   
• Distance created by digital communications:  People often say things through email, chat, or virtual meetings that they would not say face-to-face.  Over time, that communication style can normalize disrespect. 

                  Together, these factors help explain not only why incivility is increasing, but also why its effects can be so damaging in the workplace. 

The Impact of Workplace Incivility

                  When the workplace becomes a setting for demeaning remarks, ongoing gossip, or exclusion, the consequences extend far beyond individual hurt feelings.  Incivility drains organizational resources, lowers job satisfaction, increases stress and burnout, and contributes to higher turnover.  Over time, it creates a toxic culture that undermines trust, collaboration, and overall performance. 

                  Because the costs of incivility are so widespread, organizations must take intentional steps to rebuild a culture of respect.

Practical Strategies to Rebuild Workplace Civility

                  Rebuilding workplace civility must start at the top.  Organizations need clear expectations for respectful behavior, consistent accountability, and leaders who model empathy in their daily interactions.  Leaders must do more than define acceptable conduct; they must demonstrate it and ensure that managers set a positive example for their teams. Just as importantly, incivility must be addressed early, before it escalates and becomes embedded in the culture.   

Conclusion 

                  Workplace civility will not be restored through policies alone; it must be rebuilt through daily choices, consistent accountability, and leadership that models respect.  Every interaction, whether in person, by email, or in meetings, shapes the culture people experience at work.  If organizations want healthier, more productive, and more respectful workplaces, civility must be treated as a shared responsibility.  Meaningful change begins when individuals at every level choose to practice it consistently.