There are state and federal guidelines in place that protect Rhode Island residents from dealing with incivility in the workplace. Unfortunately, multiple studies indicate that the amount of incivility in the workplace is on the rise. Toxic workplaces create a litany of problems for employees, including damaging their mental health.
Defining workplace incivility?
According to McKinsey and Company, workplace incivility is “the accumulation of thoughtless actions that leave employees feeling disrespected, undermined, and ignored. ” They explain workplace incivility as “low-intensity deviant behavior with ambiguous intent to harm the target.” Essentially, workplace incivility refers to the mistreatment of one or more employees in a workplace.
How incivility impacts sleep quality
Employees who deal with harassment at work regularly report that they struggle to get quality sleep. Not only does this lack of sleep result in poor physical health, it also affects an employee’s mental well-being. Employees who sleep poorly deal with anxiety, lack of focus, and a host of other mental health issues.
Negative rumination
Another of the most common issues faced by employees on the receiving end of workplace incivility is negative rumination. This term refers to the employee’s inability to move past the hostility that he or she faces. When employees replay the negative events over and over in their minds, it is nearly impossible to move past the negative feelings brought about by those events.
Effective coping mechanisms
While the term “detachment” often bears a negative connotation, it’s actually a good thing for employees dealing with harassment at work. Distancing yourself from the negative events of the workday facilitates the healing process. Additionally, employees should take the proper steps of reporting workplace harassment to human resources.
Organizations must address workplace incivility before it becomes a problem for their employees. Doing so will raise morale, boost productivity, and create a healthy environment for their employees.