*1.2. Disrespect*

Disrespect is experienced as a type of adversity in the workplace. Data resulting from a poll of 800 participants, managers, and employees revealed that 80% of participants lost work time worrying about a disrespectful incident and 78% said that their commitment to the organization declined [11]. Further, 48% of employees surveyed claimed they were treated uncivilly at work at least once a week; three out of four employees were dissatisfied with the way their company handled incivility [11]. Examples of how employees defined workplace disrespect included: (1) taking credit for others' efforts, (2) passing blame for one's own mistakes, (3) talking down to others, (4) not listening, (5) spreading rumors about colleagues, (6) making demeaning or derogatory remarks to someone, (7) withholding information, (8) belittling others' efforts, and (9) not saying please or thank you.

The 2019 research study entitled *Women in the Workplace* conducted by LeanIn.Org and McKinsey & Company [12] indicated that women experienced disrespect more often than their male counterparts in the workplace. The percentage was even higher for Black women, women with disabilities, lesbians, and bisexual women, as shown in Table 1. This systemic inequity plays out in workplaces all the way up to women leaders in the C-Suite [12]. This perceived lack of respect is an underlying cause of worker disengagement and discontent [12] which impedes the efforts of individuals and organizations to be resilient in adapting to the post-pandemic world.

**Table 1.** Disrespect Experienced by Women versus Men.


Reprinted with permission from LeanIn.Org. [12]. Women in the Workplace. https://womenintheworkplace. com/2019 (accessed on 9 September 2022).

Disrespect occurs when an individual perceives that another does not acknowledge and show appreciation and value for their contribution and presence. Such disrespect, coupled with increased pandemic-related pressures, has caused approximately 2 million women to consider leaving the workforce completely or taking a step back from their careers [13]. Women are 1.3 times more likely than men to consider leaving the workforce, particularly senior women, Black women, and mothers [13]. These real and potential losses represent over 100,000 women in senior leadership positions. Unfortunately, Burns et al. [10] found that because the critical work women working are doing is not respected, their work is unacknowledged and unrewarded, many organizations risk losing capable women in their leadership ranks. The *Women in the Workplace* research indicated that only 32% of women and 50% of men believe disrespectful behavior toward women is often quickly addressed in their organization [12].
