Recent  research by business experts has revealed that relationships between employees and employers has been steadily deteriorating.

The study included  almost 200 employees in different areas and looked at the effects that abusive bosses have on their workers.  The researchers compared responses among two groups – those who reported abuse from their bosses on a daily basis, and those who did not.

There was a stark contrast between the two groups.  In the group reporting daily abuse, 30 percent said they had slowed their pace of work or made errors intentionally, compared to just six percent from the other group.  In the daily abuse group, almost 30 percent hid from the boss, compared with just four percent from the other group.   In the daily abuse group, again about one-third reported giving less than their best effort, compared with just 10 percent in the other group.  One-third in the abuse group also reported taking sick time when not ill, compared with just four percent in the other group.  And more than 25 percent in the abuse group reported taking more and longer breaks than normal, compared with seven percent in the other group.

The research also showed that those in the non-abuse group were much more apt to take the initiative in confronting problems they experienced at work.

The researchers said that the study does not establish a causal relationship between employer abuse and the reported behaviors.  It is conceivable, they said, that the harsh managerial style of the boss is actually caused by his or her employees poor work performance to begin with.  What is clear, the researchers said, is that relations between employers and workers are among the worst that they’ve ever been.

The researchers emphasized the need for politeness and civility at work, and the importance of good communication.  Communication, they said, is necessary to build trust between labor and management, and without such trust, relationships will deteriorate into adversarial conflicts.

Employees who suffered abuse also reported more anxiety and depression and fatigue.  They were less apt to go above and beyond their basic duties or work longer hours.  Also, abusive relationships drove more people to quit their job than dissatisfaction with salary.

Other reports have shown that customers, clients and patients were also a major source of conflict for many workers.  A national survey showed that almost half of all the workers in the United States have been the target of abuse by the public at some time or other.  This abuse included being yelled at, insulted, or even threatened physically.

No one should have to cringe each time he or she goes to a job. If you’re at the point where the idea of going to work with a loud, disrespectful, perhaps even abusive boss makes you want to hide in a corner, consider speaking with a recruiter at Winston Resources. We have many great temporary, long-term and even direct-hire assignments with some of the NYC-area’s best employers. We look forward to hearing from you.