Expert Network - February 2013

"Respect for ourselves guides our morals; respect for others guides our manners." -- Laurence Sterne

Surveys conducted by the global public relations firm, Weber Shandwick, in 2011, reported what many already know or experience: Incivility in the workplace is on the rise, and many place the blame at the feet of workplace leadership.

The online survey was conducted among 1,000 American adults to assess attitudes toward civility online, in the workplace, in the classroom and in politics. Some notable highlights include:

Over one-half of Americans, or 55 percent, believe that civility in America will get worse in the next few years.

Over four in 10 Americans, or 43 percent, have experienced incivility at work. A nearly equal number  --38 percent -- believe that the workplace is becoming increasingly uncivil and disrespectful.

Workplace leadership is blamed for this decline by approximately 65 percent of those who perceive greater incivility in the workplace.