Workplace Incivility: A Hidden Stressor You Can Prevent

February 24, 2025

Workplace incivility—rude, dismissive, or disrespectful behavior—can quickly chip away at morale, mental health, and productivity. It might be a colleague constantly interrupting in meetings, a manager intentionally ignoring emails, or a team member rolling their eyes at an idea. And it’s more common than you think. Of the 200+ million uncivil acts U.S. employees face daily, 40% happen at work. In Lyra Health’s 2025 Workforce Mental Health Trends Report, 22% of employees cited workplace incivility as their top stressor, making it a leading factor impacting mental health—alongside financial stress and work-related stress and burnout. These daily slights can snowball into serious issues, but organizations can take action to safeguard both employee well-being and performance.

What is workplace incivility?

Workplace incivility includes subtle or obvious behaviors that disrupt harmony in the workplace. These behaviors may not rise to the level of workplace violence but can create a toxic and unproductive environment. Sometimes influenced by individual perceptions, cultural norms, and industry, incivility in the workplace is especially common in high-stress industries like health care, retail, and food service. It’s also prevalent in competitive fields like finance and law where direct communication and high stakes can sometimes cross the line into rudeness. 

Workplace incivility examples

Workplace incivility can take many forms. While these behaviors may not always be intentional, they can create a negative workplace culture. Here are some workplace incivility examples: 

• Cutting off colleagues or shutting down suggestions or opinions without discussion
• Dismissive tones, eye-rolling, or sarcastic remarks
• Yelling, curt or passive-aggressive responses, or ignoring messages
• Gossiping or spreading rumors 
• Consistently arriving late to meetings
• Failing to share important updates

Impact of workplace incivility 

When left unchecked, incivility at work spreads, creating an environment where disrespect, frustration, and disengagement become the norm. Here are some ways incivility at work can impact organizations: 

Decreases morale - Rudeness, dismissiveness, or passive-aggressive behavior can make employees feel undervalued and disrespected.

Increases turnover rates - Many employees leave jobs because of toxic workplace environments where they feel disrespected or that their concerns are ignored.

Reduces productivity - Workplace incivility can cause employees to avoid meetings, hesitate to share ideas, or disengage from team projects, leading to lower performance and commitment.

Breeds toxicity - If incivility at work goes unchecked, others may feel emboldened to act the same way. 

Legal and financial consequences - While workplace incivility may not always be illegal, it can escalate into harassment, discrimination, or a hostile work environment—leading to high turnover, lost productivity, and costly legal risks.

Diminishes leadership credibility - If managers ignore or tolerate incivility at work, employees may lose faith in leadership’s ability to maintain a healthy work environment.  

Creates a cycle of hostility - Incivility can fuel retaliatory behavior, intensifying workplace conflict. For example, if an employee feels publicly humiliated by a manager, they might start spreading negative rumors about the manager or purposefully avoid communicating.

The sooner workplace incivility is addressed, the easier it is to stop it from turning into a bigger problem.

How to address incivility in the workplace

So, how do you tackle an issue that is sometimes complex and unclear? Recognizing and addressing incivility at work requires sensitivity to context, communication styles, and the nuances of workplace culture and individual perceptions. Even subtle workplace incivility can chip away at morale and team dynamics. Here are a few ways to foster a more respectful work environment:

#1 Set clear expectations and consequences

Clarify what respectful behavior looks like in your workplace. Define workplace incivility with specific examples—like eye-rolling, interrupting, or personal attacks—and outline consequences, from verbal warnings to mandatory training. Post these guidelines in common areas and review them during onboarding.

#2 Train employees on communication

Offer training on communication styles and conflict resolution to help employees navigate disagreements without crossing the line. Role-playing exercises can help employees practice navigating incivility at work.

#3 Promote open communication and feedback

Foster a culture where employees feel comfortable giving and receiving constructive feedback. If someone perceives a colleague is raising their voice aggressively, they should feel safe saying, "When you were speaking to me in the meeting, it felt like you were raising your voice, and it impacted me this way. What’s your take on that?" 

#4 Recognize positive behavior  

Acknowledge employees who contribute to a positive workplace culture, whether through shout-outs in team meetings, awards, or a "civility champion" recognition program.

#5 Lead by example

Leaders set the tone. When managers practice active listening, give constructive feedback, and handle disagreements professionally, employees are more likely to follow suit. 

#6 Provide anonymous reporting options

Not everyone feels comfortable speaking up in the moment. Establish anonymous reporting channels for workplace incivility, such as an online portal or a dedicated HR email, so employees can report concerns without fear of retaliation.

#7 Promote inclusivity

Unconscious biases and cultural misunderstandings can fuel incivility at work. Inclusivity training can help educate employees about biases and cultural competency to reduce misunderstandings.

#8 Use de-escalation strategies

When tensions rise, simple de-escalation techniques can help diffuse incivility in the workplace. Try responses like “I appreciate you sharing that” or “Let’s talk about what’s going on” to defuse friction before it turns into a bigger issue.

#9 Structure interactions to minimize conflict

Structured meetings and boundaries can help prevent disruptions while still giving employees a space to voice concerns. If an employee frequently interrupts work with complaints, a manager might say, "Let’s save these discussions for our scheduled one-on-one meetings. Please prepare a list of the topics you’d like to discuss."

#10 Provide quality mental health resources

Incivility at work can be a symptom of underlying personal struggles. Offer mental health resources, such as therapy, mental health coaching, and digital support tools, to help employees manage stress and improve workplace interactions.

A risk you can’t afford to ignore

Incivility in the workplace erodes trust, morale, and performance and creates unnecessary stress for employees. The cost of doing nothing far outweighs the effort it takes to set clear expectations, foster respect, and create a culture of accountability. By taking a few simple steps, organizations can create a healthier work environment—a win for both employees and the business.