Workplace “aggression” more common, book says

Nathan Bowling, a Wright State University psychology professor, says workplace aggression has become so commonplace that it’s damaging workers’ psyche and hurting productivity in offices and factories across America.

Bowling reached that conclusion in his new book, “Research and Theory on Workplace Aggression,” which he edited along with M. Sandy Hershcovis, associate professor at the University of Calgary’s Haskayne School of Business in Alberta, Canada.

Each chapter examines different aspects of workplace aggression, which can range from verbal insults to physical attacks, and is authored by different experts in the field.

Workplace aggression can also take more subtle forms, including being bullied or yelled at by a supervisor, having your work excessively monitored, or being given an unreasonable workload, according to Bowling.

“Aggression can motivate people in the short term, but the long-term drawbacks are so great that it is not an effective strategy,” Bowling said.

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