Korn Ferry Survey Shows Negative Personal and Business Impacts of Rude Workplace
Los Angeles, May 4, 2023 – A new Korn Ferry survey reveals that beyond creating hurt feelings, a rude workplace environment can have a large negative effect on business.
Nearly all the professionals who responded (91%) say that rudeness in the workplace has a negative impact on a company’s performance, with 52% saying it has a significant negative impact.
More than three-quarters of respondents (81%) say they find it difficult to focus after someone has done or said something rude, and the same percentage have considered quitting a job due to a rude colleague or boss.
The survey also found that in some cases, bad behavior is tolerated in the workplace. More than half (57%) say that if a star performer was also rude to colleagues, their company wouldn’t do anything because that person gets results.
“Increasingly, companies have to pay attention not only to what gets done, but how it gets done. A culture that ignores rude interactions will eventually pay the price with a damaged reputation and departing employees,” said Tamara Rodman, a senior client partner in Korn Ferry’s Culture, Change and Communication practice.
The study also found that the prevalence of rude behavior is on the rise. Sixty-percent of respondents say that compared to pre-pandemic, their colleagues are more rude today, and 59% say working remotely makes it easier to be rude (e.g. interrupting on calls, not returning emails, multi-tasking during virtual meetings).
“Professionals have had an extended period of lacking face-to-face exchanges, and that can contribute to people forgetting how to be civilized to one another,” says Rodman. “It doesn’t matter if people are interacting remotely or in person, it’s critical that co-workers, managers and executives demand civility in the workplace.”
More than half of the respondents (54%) say that if a colleague did or said something rude, they’d let that person know the behavior upset them.
About the survey: The Korn Ferry survey of 595 professionals took place in late April 2023
Survey responses
What would your company do if a star performer was also rude to colleagues?
Nothing – they get results 57%
Reprimand them 35%
Fire them 8%
Have you ever considered quitting a job due to a rude colleague or boss?
Yes 81%
No 19%
How much of a negative impact does rudeness in the workplace have on a company’s performance?
Significant impact 52%
Some impact 39%
No impact 9%
Compared to pre-pandemic, are your colleagues more rude or less rude to each other today?
More rude 60%
Less rude 40%
Does working remotely make it easier for colleagues to be rude (e.g. interrupting on calls, not returning emails, multi-tasking during virtual meetings)?
Yes to a great extent 17%
Yes to some extent 42%
No 41%
Have you found it difficult to focus on work after someone says or does something rude?
Yes 81%
No 19%
If a colleague did or said something rude, would you let them know their behavior upset you?
Yes 54%
No 46%
About Korn Ferry
Korn Ferry is a global organizational consulting firm. We work with our clients to design optimal organization structures, roles, and responsibilities. We help them hire the right people and advise them on how to reward and motivate their workforce while developing professionals as they navigate and advance their careers.
Media Contact:
Tracy Kurschner
612.309.3957
