by Maria C Collins

Created on: March 24, 2010   Last Updated: March 26, 2010

Good manners are often under-rated these days, especially in the workplace. Management often blames low productivity and staff under performance on many factors, but they rarely cite rudeness as its cause. Rudeness does nonetheless affect staff morale in many workplaces. Some people believe that they are so skilled and talented that they do not need to bother with good manners. However, rudeness and treating people badly will affect how the work place performs.

Think about the way that you feel when someone says “Do that now”, the immediate thought in your head is “Why should I?” Then think about how you feel when someone asks, “Would you please do that?” The difference between the two is a few words and yet the difference in the feeling that they engender is wide. People are more willing to co-operate with and help someone who treats them properly.

 When you treat people properly, they feel good about themselves and their work. Workers take the initiative, they do things without having to be asked, and they work harder. When you treat people rudely, they simmer with resentment, anger and frustration and they work grudgingly. They are frightened to take any initiative in case they are shouted at for doing so.

Rudeness is not an attractive trait anywhere, but at work, it can affect your career. No one wants to work with, or for, someone who is constantly rude. Someone who constantly upsets others will be unpopular. There are times in everyone’s career when it helps to have friends or, at least, those who look kindly upon one.  

People who are constantly rude and unkind earn a reputation that may spread through their own company and through their industry. It may mean that their own company will not give them good references if they want to move on. It may also mean that they do not get their dream job because of their behaviour. Reputations spread far and fast, and a bad reputation will spread even faster than a good one. Other companies may not want to employ someone with a known bad reputation for rudeness.

Constant rudeness and unkindness can constitute bullying and many companies will not employ someone who may mistreat their workers. They may also be chary of employing someone who could easily cause a worker to take a legal case against the company for bullying. 

Good manners, a pleasant manner and kindness to others stand you in good stead in all situations. This is doubly the case at work. Rudeness will close career doors to you and it will affect your salary and career prospects. Pleasantries, kindness and good manners will pay dividends and help you to be successful in your career.

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