Mean bosses bring out the worst—even in the best employees
A study by the University of Florida has found that even the best employees can become negative and act out at work if they think their bosses have treated them with rudeness or are mean-spirited. That means gossiping, pilfering, backstabbing and long lunch breaks can become the norm—even for those considered star or model employees.
University of Florida Management professor Timothy Judge says, "When employees feel they’re mistreated, they get even. If they think their supervisor is nasty toward them, they will find a way to restore that perceived level of injustice. Training supervisors to treat employees with respect is not something that costs employers a lot of money, and it can produce real dividends."
The results of the study were published in the Journal of Applied Psychology.
