Conclusion
A phone conversation ends with a slammed and hissed epithet; Someone drains the office coffeepot and then walks way without refilling it; or day after day, a boss walks by without so much as a nod to a member of his/her staff. These are all examples of rude behavior. Consensus says rudeness is increasing in America. The tragedy is that, underneath the tiny acts of disrespect and rudeness, and underneath the out-of-proportion reactions that they can provoke, is the simple face that many people don't like their jobs, don't respect their colleagues, and wish they weren't there. Rudeness results in lower morale, lower motivation, increased absenteeism, increased sick leave, diminished creativity, and even litigation.
No one means to be rude, but when half the people are now doing twice the work because of downsizing, rightsizing, or whatever it is called, stress goes up, and behavior in the office becomes less than civil. There is much employers can do to help. Ensuring a safe workplace where rudeness and incivility are minimized is one of the most important things an organization can do to protect their employees as well as themselves.