The best response to workplace anger is compassion, not punishment.
Supportive reactions by managers and co-workers to an employees' angry outburst can actually lead to positive changes in the workplace, while chastising or taking no action accomplishes nothing.
To examine how reaction to an employee's display of violent anger can affect workplace atmosphere, researchers studied 194 Americans who had witnessed an angry outburst at work.
No connection was found between firing an upset employee and solving underlying workplace problems. However, even a single act of support by a manager or co-worker for the irate employee improves workplace tension. When the management took an active interest in addressing underlying issues that prompted employee anger, perceptions of improved situations increased significantly.
The findings show that support from a manager can lead to positive changes at the workplace.
Supportive reactions by managers and co-workers to an employees' angry outburst can actually lead to positive changes in the workplace, while chastising or taking no action accomplishes nothing.
To examine how reaction to an employee's display of violent anger can affect workplace atmosphere, researchers studied 194 Americans who had witnessed an angry outburst at work.
No connection was found between firing an upset employee and solving underlying workplace problems. However, even a single act of support by a manager or co-worker for the irate employee improves workplace tension. When the management took an active interest in addressing underlying issues that prompted employee anger, perceptions of improved situations increased significantly.
The findings show that support from a manager can lead to positive changes at the workplace.