The 2017, 2019, and 2021 low-morale studies all reveal and/or validate that the behaviors of formal leaders often are central to the onset and/or proliferation of low-morale experiences in modern workplaces. There are particular leadership styles that are more likely to cause or exacerbate workplace abuse and neglect; the following qualitative data highlight tactics of […]
Red Flag: Problematic Leadership Behaviors Read More »
In my studies, participants frequently discussed increasing feelings of anxiety and/or increases in symptoms of physical ailments as they began preparing for work (say, on Sunday night) or as they got closer to the workplace during their commutes. I call this work dread, and it is one of the early physical indicators of abuse or
Red Flag: Work Dread Read More »
Resilience narratives place individuals in charge of filling in or taking responsibility for system failures (Berg, Galvan, & Tewell 2018). People who are faced with such narratives often hear colloquialisms like “do more with less,” or, upon sharing their workplace concerns about lack of resources or support, are admonished to have “grit.” When resilience narratives
Red Flag: Resilience Narratives Read More »
In my low morale studies, participants shared observations that their organization’s culture included the characteristic of insularity. Employees exhibited insularity in several ways – from being obviously suspicious of new employees (e.g., “outsiders”) to actively performing disinterest in updated practices or promoting behaviors that invite cronyism. In addition to making conditions ripe for a plethora
Red Flag: Insularity Read More »
Red Flag (noun) : something that indicates or draws attention to a problem, danger, or irregularity. – Merriam-Webster Low-morale experience data and anecdotes highlight that, for a variety of reasons, victims often discount or ignore early warning signs that co-workers (including leaders, colleagues, or direct reports) or organizations are toxic and/or harbor or promote abusive
A MicroBlog Series: Red Flags Read More »