Survey shows bad manners affect people's work

A rude boss makes workers less productive, according to a new study of Kiwi companies. The survey by an Australian researcher also found New Zealand to be a nation of bad-mannered bores. Dr Barbara Griffin, of the University of Western Sydney, has found one in five of us experiences boorishness at work at least once a month.

At the first Asia Pacific Congress on Work and Organisational Psychology held in Adelaide, Griffin said rude behaviour was more subtle than bullying. Although some were unaware of their bad manners, others were "deliberately and purposefully" rude. Examples included ignoring emails, making derogatory comments about a workmate, gossiping, texting during a conversation, and interrupting people.

One Wellington woman, who asked not to be named, told the Herald on Sunday she suffered sleepless nights over workplace rudeness during several years in the communications industry.

One colleague constantly and loudly derided her work to others, another yelled across her workroom to get attention, and another always questioned her judgement. Griffin said such undermining was common and often had a flow-on effect through an organisation.

"Even the occasional rude remark can have a big impact. And that can range from lack of commitment and low productivity to high staff turnover." Ironically bosses who figured highly in studies on bullying were less likely than their subordinates to be bad mannered, Griffin said.

And it was younger workers who experienced the most incidents of rudeness. The study surveyed more than 54,000 employees.