Be rude, risk output

A number of factors determine how you perform in a job and workplace environment has a bold presence on the list. A positive environment can inspire you to put in maximum energy and use genuine creativity to produce wonderful results. A toxic environment can make a reluctant, irritable worker of you and can relegate you to the dark corner of oblivion.

Take Parvati’s case, an employee of a Delhi-based food processing unit, for instance. “The job of an EA to the chairman is stressful enough. But having a rude, demanding boss makes it unbearable,” she says. “He is irascible and foul-mouthed. He can even go to the extent of throwing things.” When asked how it affects her, she says, “The daily tantrums make it a struggle to keep my head straight and work well. I usually end up yelling at people in return. I work with a constant fear of being harassed.”

According to experts, incivility at workplaces includes bad manners and inconsiderate behaviour as well as outright bullying and harassment. Besides, it causes a rapid decrease in the tolerance level of workers who have been the subject of it—direct or indirect. Case in point—Parvati. "Constant attacks demoralise individuals and reduce their efficiency," says the HR head of a well-known tea company. Rudeness is believed to be the cause of stress which breeds more rudeness. This affects the organisation by lowering the productivity as a whole. Is that true?

Studies seem to suggest so. A British medical journal research finds rudeness to be a cause of mistakes. "If someone is rude to you at work or if you witness rudeness, you are more likely to make mistakes," says Rhona Flin, professor of applied psychology at the University of Aberdeen.

The reasons behind such toxicity are varied. It could be motivated by either one or more of the following: stress, interpersonal differences, external pressures and intrinsic personality traits. Working daily in such an environment has a multitude of effects. Poor energy, poor concentration, low motivation, poor sleep and critical depression are common problems, say psychologists.

Stressful environments can even lead to post-traumatic stress, which, in turn, can cause anxiety disorder, extreme apprehension and recurrent flashbacks at night. And as psychiatrist Dr. Debashis Ray finds, "Work output reduces as they perform under a veiled threat of repercussions at work."

Personal experiences are enough proof of the correlation. "Corporate bullying can be a part of the job package especially if you're a fresher or a junior," explains Debolina who recently landed an employment in a paper manufacturing company. Her colleague, Ankit, is often harassed by co-workers who “pick on him unnecessarily”. The constant attacks have made him nervous, says Debolina. “He feels a lot of rage, is constantly angry and irritable, and this is particularly distracting when we have to work together on projects.”

On a different tune, Mallika talks about her stint with a leading IT service provider. “I was a complete fresher when I joined. I heard stories about bullying but my experience was to the contrary. My team leader fostered a very healthy work environment and all my co-workers were nice. The positive environment made us work better and was greatly satisfying.”

A lot depends on the manager, says the marketing head of a multinational IT corporation. “Although unpleasant colleagues cannot be definitely linked with lowered efficiency, a rude manager can change a worker's frame of mind. Higher-ups must consider a manager's reputation while judging his team-members’ performances.”

This is echoed by Naina's experience of working under bosses with different approaches to get work done. “When I joined the organization, the MD had zero tolerance for rudeness. Both superiors and juniors worked as colleagues. The positive culture did enhance our outputs.” In complete contrast, she recollects, his replacement fostered a terrible environment. “It felt like someone was always trying to get us. We were completely demoralised,” says Naina. The company, a multi-business conglomerate, recorded the highest attrition ever during his one year tenure. Sujit, a marketing manager in a publishing house, agrees. “Having a tough task master is not the issue but bosses who are rude and abusive are painful to work with,” he says. “Such bosses make you feel nervous all the time. You end up spending extra time fussing over mistakes or small issues.”

But unpleasant colleagues aren't the only cause of sloppy work. There are several instances of seniors perceiving juniors’ competence as a threat, as Aniruddha Roychowdhury, the HR head of ONI Enterprises, a Kolkata-based placement consultancy, explains: “Mostly, it is a result of the seniors' ego issues. They often take advantage of their position by being mean or showing resistance to the juniors’ inputs. In such cases, the junior often loses his morale and is dissuaded from doing his best.”

The mental fabric of the employee also takes a hit. To deal with such pressure, Dr. Sanjoy Sen suggests a healthy lifestyle, taking breaks such as short trips, seeking help – professional or personal and a low intake of alcohol or sleeping pills.

Dr. Debashis Ray prescribes detachment, “I usually tell my patients that above all it is necessary to be professional. If a person is rude, one should disassociate from it. Their behaviour is their problem. There are a number of reasons why someone is rude which may have little to do with you or your work in particular. It’s best not to take things personally.”

There are other solutions that can help too. Ajay, an employee of a leading financial institution, doesn't have it much different. "My boss is a nightmare and I get no help from the HR department. The situation had aggravated so much there was no option except to quit." However, six months down the line, Ajay is still stuck in the same job with the same boss.

"I practice yoga, take short trips and go to the gym regularly. These small steps definitely help," he says. "I cannot control someone's behaviour, what I can do is look after myself."


(With agency inputs. Some names changed on request)

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