The Schoolyard Syndrome

"In my role as an employee assistance professional, the issue I repeatedly run into is acting-out behaviors in the workplace. From frontline workers to the top of the company ladder, childish behavior turns worksites into schoolyards replete with rumors, name-calling, finger-pointing, and bullying. These behaviors often create toxic environments in which good workers either check out emotionally to avoid the drama or leave to find more mature pastures."

"According to the NIH, negative work behavior (NWB) is "exposure to ongoing negative and unwanted behavior by superiors or colleagues which is harmful to employees and the organization." When displayed in the schoolyard, these behaviors serve to create a sense of belonging through the power of inclusion and exclusion, and feelings of power and control through emotional manipulation and an "us against them" mentality. Not surprisingly, these same forces are what drive NWB, leaving many people feeling surrounded by children wearing adult costumes."

Worksites frequently resemble schoolyards when adults display acting-out behaviors such as rumors, name-calling, finger-pointing, and bullying. Such behaviors produce toxic environments where competent employees emotionally withdraw or leave for more mature workplaces. Negative work behavior (NWB) is exposure to ongoing negative and unwanted behavior by superiors or colleagues that harms employees and the organization. Acting out can create belonging through inclusion and exclusion and confer feelings of power and control via emotional manipulation and an "us against them" mentality. Addressing acting-out behaviors requires tact and courage. Reducing unnecessary workplace drama lowers personal stress and improves organizational functioning.

Read at Psychology Today