An institutional perspective on workplace incivility: case studies from academia

Abstract

PurposeThis research study looks at issues such as why does incivility occur, dynamics responsible for incivility with an emphasis on causes stimulated by the general context and its influence on the behavior of individuals, groups and organizations.Design/methodology/approachThis paper provides a fresh perspective on workplace incivility by integrating institutional theory with empirical data from two case studies from academic institutions located in different continents to understand incivility in organizations. A comparative case analysis across two different geographical regions is used to validate the argument that institutional antecedents can influence micro-level organizational events such as employee incivility despite variance in geographical locations and cultural dimensions.FindingsThe findings of the study reveal that academic institutions are subject to uncivil behaviors, which could be a direct offshoot of the historical and cultural beliefs of the society. The general context of the studied cases led to workplace incivility mainly in the form of racial prejudices and sectarianism transferred to the organizational day-to-day practice. The paper suggests a pragmatic view for possible interventions to humanize workplaces where it is better not to adopt a “one size fits all” recipe to deal with such a complex phenomenon.Originality/valueThis paper provides a macro-level analysis of workplace incivility by assuming an institutional perspective to explore the relationships if any between incivility experienced by employees within an organization and the wider political and historical structuration of the society.

Perceived workplace incivility and psychological well-being in higher education teachers: a multigroup analysis

“…, 2006). Withal, stressful work conditions make teaching faculty increasingly prone to uncivil behaviors (Akella and Eid, 2020; Koon and Pun, 2018). Various factors have been associated with the onset of work-related stress in teachers.…”

“…There have been increasing calls for the exploration of WPI in different cultures, demographics, and work settings (Akella and Eid, 2020; Ghosh, 2017; Schilpzand et al. , 2016; Welbourne et al.…”

“…It has a high prevalence in academia (Keashly and Neuman, 2010;Twale and DeLuca, 2008). In a very recent study, Akella and Eid (2020) revealed that an uncivil workplace environment existed rife with rudeness and condescending behaviors in academic institutions. In the teaching profession, failure to handle interpersonal relations and communications appropriately result in conflicts, discord, generation of feelings of jealousy, revenge, and anger (Hubert and Van Veldhoven, 2001;McElveen et al, 2006).…”

“…In the teaching profession, failure to handle interpersonal relations and communications appropriately result in conflicts, discord, generation of feelings of jealousy, revenge, and anger (Hubert and Van Veldhoven, 2001;McElveen et al, 2006). Withal, stressful work conditions make teaching faculty increasingly prone to uncivil behaviors (Akella and Eid, 2020;Koon and Pun, 2018). Various factors have been associated with the onset of work-related stress in teachers.…”

“…There have been increasing calls for the exploration of WPI in different cultures, demographics, and work settings (Akella and Eid, 2020;Ghosh, 2017;Schilpzand et al, 2016;Welbourne et al, 2015). Earlier research papers have revealed that WPI is a prevalent phenomenon studied extensively (Cortina et al, 2017) across various countries (Cortina et al, 2001;Lim and Lee, 2011;Pearson and Porath, 2009).…”