It is important to note that the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in major shifts in how organizations operate when it comes to human resources. Many enterprises transitioned to remote work options, which created a chance to explore new opportunities and a novel set of challenges. Among them is remote work incivility, which is highly common in the given framework but different from typical forms of incivility. The latter can be defined as a behavior that is inconsiderate and disrespectful of others but is not aggressive, and it does not require it to be intentional (Reilly & Warren, 2021). One of the unique aspects of remote work is the fact that many operate in a work-unfriendly environment. For example, these factors can include cohabitants, such as pets, children, spouses, or parents, and other distractive elements, such as noisy neighbors.
The presence of new sources of incivility in remote work does not mean that it is unsolvable. Employees working virtually still need to be required to ensure that they have the appropriate level of working conditions where incivility does not take place. Leaders and managers play a critical role in both enabling or disabling incivility when they engage in remote work as well. For instance, a relaxed attitude of a boss towards his or her own incivility becomes a norm for all employees. Thus, cyber incivility is a serious issue that needs to be addressed as face-to-face incivility through leadership, organizational policies and protocols, and employment mandates (Reilly & Warren, 2021). Ultimately, the aim is to harness a respectful work process within a remote environment.
Reference
Reilly, N. P., & Warren, K. V. (2021). Remote work incivility: I don’t get no respect.SIOP.