Workplace rudeness toward colleagues often has ripple effects beyond the office, unexpectedly impacting employees' children. New research reveals that working mothers facing incivility at work are more prone to authoritarian parenting styles, which can negatively affect their kids' development.
Workplace incivility includes rude, disrespectful, or impolite behaviors that violate norms of respect. As researchers note, these acts show a lack of consideration for others. Common examples: ignoring colleagues, making negative remarks, failing to acknowledge others' efforts, blaming them for your errors, avoiding interaction, or excluding someone from networks or teams.
To explore how workplace rudeness influences home life, researchers surveyed 146 working mothers and their spouses online. Mothers reported on experiences of incivility and their sense of parenting efficacy. Spouses assessed mothers' authoritarian (strict, controlling) versus permissive parenting. Results showed a strong link between perceived workplace incivility and authoritarian parenting at home—but no connection to permissive styles.
The study also linked workplace incivility to mothers feeling less effective as parents, potentially driving the shift toward stricter control, according to the researchers.
Authoritarian parents set high expectations and rigid rules demanding unquestioned obedience, while providing minimal warmth or feedback. Mistakes draw harsh punishment. They enforce extensive rules, prioritizing discipline over play, researchers explain.
