Integrative Literature Review: Workplace Incivility: Impacts on Individual and Organizational Performance

Abstract

Although workplace incivility has been found to negatively impact individual and organizational performance and interfere with the creation of a civil and respectful workplace, the phenomenon has been largely overlooked by the field of human resource development (HRD). This article reviewed the workplace incivility literature to provide a better understanding of the characteristics, prevalence, trends, causes, and impacts of this phenomenon in contemporary workplaces. The review indicates that workplace incivility frequently occurs and is harmful; however, it is generally not well understood and accordingly not recognized as an issue needing attending. Therefore, this article calls for research attention from HRD scholars. The authors further provide HRD practitioners some guidelines that may assist them in identifying and dealing with uncivil behaviors at work and ultimately bringing out the desired individual and organizational performance.