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A nation on edge. Rudeness is on the rise, as the pressures of pandemic life tug at America’s fraying seams of civility. In a 2019 poll, 93% of respondents stated that uncivil behavior was becoming more widespread in the US. Since then, the COVID-19 crisis has further strained relationships and finances, disrupted jobs and schools, and caused us to fret about our health around the clock. But that’s not all. It also appears the pandemic has made us meaner. [NYT] |
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Unfriendly skies. In a busy holiday travel season, US airlines face an extraordinary increase in the number of unruly passengers. As of November 9, the FAA recorded more than 5,100 incidents of unruly behavior this year, with masks at the center of the disputes nearly 75% of the time. (The FAA launched fewer than 150 investigations of unruly passenger behavior in 2019.) Each incident can lead to delayed flights, anxious passengers, and serious injuries. [WSJ] |
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Why it matters. Airplanes are a means of travel for most of us. But they’re a workplace for pilots, crew, operators, and many others. In the American workplace, incivility is rampant, and it’s only getting worse. Academic research on the subject is startling. In a survey of 9,000 managers and employees in the US, 80% reported losing time at work worrying about a hostile incident, while nearly half intentionally stopped trying as hard. Insults, crude language, and even being interrupted can take a toll on employee performance, weaken customer relationships, and increase employee turnover. |
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Righting wrongs. This malady requires a top-down remedy. Companies should start with the boss, who sets the tone for behavior in the office. Organizational psychologist and Stanford professor Robert Sutton says that the best bosses give praise and make employees feel safe, without fear of ridicule or punishment. Check out some other remedies for rudeness. |
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| — Edited by Katrina Parker |
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