New research suggests American workplaces are harbouring more negative environments. According to a recent Express Employment Professionals-Harris Poll survey, 30% of Americans who are currently employed and job-seeking, state that their work colleagues have become more confrontational compared to three years ago.
Of the survey respondents, almost 50% witnessed workplace gossip, whilst close to 40% identified unprofessional communication. Furthermore, roughly a third noted that their colleagues were steering clear of collaborating with certain employees or outright excluding them. Even more concerning, 25% claimed they saw colleagues taking credit for somebody else’s work.
The study revealed disturbing anecdotes of physical altercations and senior employees intimidating those junior to them over qualifications. Additionally, about 20% of respondents reported a troubling increase in colleagues being intentionally unkind to others over the past year.
When asked what measures should be taken to address these issues, over 60% of respondents suggested that companies should place signs encouraging civility and kindness. Worryingly, almost half of those who have experienced a toxic work atmosphere believe their employers would do little or nothing about it.
In fact, earlier research unearthed the lengths employees would go to avoid such toxicity. Over a third of respondents confessed they would accept a paycheck reduction to work in a less negatively-charged environment. Interestingly, the survey found close to 44% of employees, who have been affected by toxic workplace culture, used their vacation or personal leave to escape the environment, with 30% even using sick leave.