Explain why your workplace is or is not civil and describe a situation where you have experienced incivility in the workplace. How was this addressed?

My workplace is generally civil, with a team that is both supportive and respectful of one another. However, I have experienced incivility in the workplace on occasion, typically when people feel overwhelmed or stressed out by workloads and deadlines. In these situations, it’s not uncommon for tempers to flare and for civility to break down in the heat of the moment.

When this happens in my workplace, it’s usually addressed immediately by our manager. Depending on the severity of the situation, they may take a person aside and remind them to remain professional; provide feedback on communication styles; or discuss how to handle disagreements properly. The goal is always to de-escalate things quickly while also providing guidance on how we can maintain civility going forward. If needed, our manager will sometimes also convene a meeting with all affected parties so everyone can calmly discuss what happened and come up with solutions together.

Overall, my experience has been that incivility at work isn’t tolerated but rather met with open dialogue and proactive problem solving. Our team values respect for each other above all else – something that is reinforced often through clear guidelines set forth by our managers as well as consistent follow-up if any issues arise.