Discrimination at workplace tops Terrible Ten rude behaviors list

Discrimination at workplace has topped the list of Terrible Ten rude behaviors.

Washington, Oct 6 : Discrimination at workplace has topped the list of "Terrible Ten" rude behaviors.

Many forms of 9-to-5 boorishness have earned spots in the list, based on a new survey of 615 workers and others in Baltimore.

The survey, by the Civility Initiative at The Johns Hopkins University and the Jacob France Institute of the University of Baltimore, revealed that misdeeds in office counted among the rudest behaviors.

Discrimination at work, erratic or aggressive driving that endangers others, and taking credit for someone else's work made it to the top three positions.Other workplace offenses on the list include treating service providers as inferiors and using cell phones during meetings to make calls or send text messages.

"The research suggests that people are bothered more by the transgressions of coworkers and strangers than by those of family and friends," said P.M. Forni, director of the Civility Initiative at Johns Hopkins, who conducted the research with David Stevens, Treva Stack and Stacey Lee of the University of Baltimore.

"Maybe we are less rude towards family, or maybe we are more inclined to tolerate rude behavior when it comes from family," he added.

For the study, categories of "rude" or "uncivil" behavior were derived from an informal survey, conducted online through Yahoo.com and Survey Monkey during a two-week period in May 2007.

The survey polled employees of the Baltimore-based companies Lifebridge Health and E A Engineering Science and Technology, as well as employees and students at the University of Baltimore.

Respondents were asked to indicate the degree to which they personally considered each behavior offensive.

The top "Terrible Ten" rude behaviors are:

1. Discrimination in an employment situation

2. Erratic/aggressive driving that endangers others

3. Taking credit for someone else's work.

4. Treating service providers as inferiors.

5. Jokes or remarks that mock another's race/gender/age/disability/sexual preference or religion.

6. Children who behave aggressively or who bully others.

7. Littering (including trash, spitting, pet waste).

8. Misuse of handicapped privileges.

9. Smoking in non-smoking places or smoking in front of non-smokers without asking.

10. Using cell phones or text messaging in mid-conversation or during an appointment or meeting.

ANI