When Rudeness Spreads: How Job Anxiety Turns Incivility into Emotional Withdrawal

What is it about?

This study examines how experiencing rude or disrespectful behavior at work—known as workplace incivility—can lead employees to become emotionally detached from their coworkers, a response called depersonalization. The researchers explored why this happens and how it may vary depending on gender and education. They proposed that when employees face incivility, they feel anxious about their jobs, and this anxiety, in turn, makes them pull away emotionally from others at work. Using time-lagged survey data from employees in Pakistani organizations, the study finds that workplace incivility increases job-related anxiety, which in turn fuels depersonalization toward coworkers. Disrespect triggers worries about status, fairness, and job security, draining emotional energy and leading employees to withdraw as self-protection. The anxiety–depersonalization link is stronger among men and highly educated employees, who may feel a greater threat to dignity when mistreated. For organizations, the findings highlight that incivility is not a minor issue—it can ripple through the workplace, eroding relationships and morale. Preventing rudeness and promoting respect can help reduce employees’ anxiety and preserve healthy coworker dynamics. Training programs on civility, leadership modeling of respectful behavior, and open communication channels for reporting incivility may all prevent the emotional disengagement that follows disrespectful treatment.

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Photo by Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash

Photo by Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This research is unique in revealing the psychological mechanism—job-related anxiety—through which workplace incivility fosters depersonalization. It also identifies personal characteristics, such as gender and education, that shape this process, showing that not all employees experience the same emotional cost from disrespectful treatment. By integrating mediation and moderation perspectives, the study enriches our understanding of how individual and contextual factors interact to influence workplace well-being. The study is timely given the rising global concern over workplace mistreatment and mental health. As organizations in Pakistan and beyond face heightened pressures, incivility may become more common and more harmful. This research underscores that even seemingly mild disrespect can have serious psychological and interpersonal consequences. In addressing incivility proactively, employers can help ensure that workplaces remain respectful, emotionally healthy, and resilient.