#Japan #Tokyo #Employee Engagement #CORNER #Workplace Incivility

Understanding Workplace Incivility

Recently, CORNER, a human resources professional boutique, conducted a comprehensive survey focusing on workplace incivility, which refers to behaviors that violate workplace norms of mutual respect. This survey involved 624 business professionals aged 20 to 50 across Japan, executed between September 17-19, 2025. Alarmingly, around 80% of respondents reported experiences of incivility, including a lack of gratitude and high-handed behavior. Approximately 50% indicated instances of unfair opportunities and interruptions during conversations.

Key Findings from the Survey

The survey has unveiled critical insights into the prevalence of incivility in workplaces:

• - A substantial proportion of employees experience incivility, particularly in the form of neglecting to express gratitude and using authoritative language, with around 80% reporting such experiences.
• - Post-experience, employees exhibited increased psychological stress and intentions to leave their jobs. Additionally, their engagement levels deteriorated, leading to decreased initiative in communication and collaboration.
• - Incidents of incivility were predominantly observed in face-to-face 1-on-1 meetings and small group discussions, particularly with direct supervisors and higher management. These situations often arose from differences in values, communication styles, and high-stress scenarios.

Understanding Incivility

Workplace incivility encompasses low-intensity deviant behaviors that go against mutual respect, though the intent behind them is often unclear. Common acts of incivility include interrupting others, failing to show appreciation, minimizing contributions, and exclusion from decision-making processes. These actions not only affect individual morale but can also ripple through to create an environment of disengagement and hostility.

Impact on Motivation

The repercussions of experiencing incivility are profound. Employees that face such behaviors saw a drastic decline in positive actions like proposing ideas, cooperating with teammates, and taking on challenges. Their job satisfaction, performance, and trust in the organization plummeted by approximately 25-30%. Conversely, psychological stress and the desire to leave the organization increased significantly. This highlights a concerning trend: personal well-being and organizational engagement risks deteriorate concurrently due to workplace incivility.

Situational Factors

The survey identified key situational factors that contribute to incivility. Frequent triggers included differences in values or communication styles and a lack of time or resources. Incivility tends to occur more in interactions with supervisors and senior management compared to peers, where differences in roles may not fully explain the behavior. Additionally, external pressures such as client interactions also played a role in incivility incidents.

Insights from CORNER’s CHRO

Takihiro Monma, the CHRO of CORNER, commented on the alarming prevalence of incivility in workplaces, stating that such seemingly minor acts, like neglecting to express gratitude, hold substantial repercussions. They affect not only the individuals facing these challenges but can lead to decreased productivity across the organization.
Monma emphasized the necessity for companies to proactively address this issue. Initiating clear behavioral standards, defining roles, and enhancing dialogue skills within teams can serve as effective measures to mitigate everyday friction caused by incivility.

Conclusion

The survey emphasizes the need for organizations to recognize and address the often-overlooked issue of workplace incivility. Companies must create strategies to minimize the occurrence of such behaviors, enhancing both the individual’s experience and the overall productivity of the organization. For further details about workplace incivility and the complete survey data, please refer to the download link provided.

Here is the link for the detailed report.

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About CORNER

Founded in 2016 by Takihiro Monma with the mission of transforming HR practices to positively impact organizations and the world, CORNER connects businesses with parallel workers, experts who can provide immediate support across various organizational challenges.

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