Technical opinion: Bosses and their e-manners

Abstract

A study was conducted to determine the pervasiveness of cyber incivility at workplace while accessing Internet and e-mail. The cyber incivility can be defined as communicative behavior during email interactions that can violate workplace rules. The study examined the impact of respondent's gender on the cyber incivility and the effect of cyber incivility on respondent's work practices. This study was conducted at various workplace including banking and finance industry of Singapore, while respondents were Chinese, Malays, and Indians. The study found that 91% of respondents experienced cyber incivility from their supervisors at the workplace. The study revealed that respondents with male supervisors experienced more active forms of cyber incivility or uncivil email behaviors. The study also reported that respondents with female supervisors experienced passive form of cyber incivility like indecent behavior in an indirect manner.