Inappropriate And Seductive Behavior Hurt Morale And Productivity

By Margarita Nahapetyan

Inappropriate behavior at work, such as using dirty jokes, propositions, innuendos and flirting, which can be harmless and non-harassing, makes businesses less efficient and hurts morale for all, suggests a new research by Canadian experts.

The study, carried out by scientists from the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management and the University of British Columbia's Sauder School of Management, was trying to figure out whether men and women got anything positive out of the behavior, such as enjoyment and social bonding. Jennifer Berdahl, associate professor of organizational behavior at the Rotman School, said that the new study is the first of its kind to concentrate on possible positive aspects of sexual behavior in the workplace. All the previous studies have been focusing on and analyzing just negative consequences of such behavior, added the expert who co-authored the study with Karl Aquino of the Sauder School of Management.

As part of their study, Berdahl and Aquino surveyed more than 1,200 manufacturing, social service and university employees to find out about their psychological well-being, withdrawal from work, and exposure to vulgar behavior at workplace. About two-thirds of the workers were women. Researchers performed few experiments in which they asked the employees to recall and express the opinion on the inappropriate behavior they had witnessed in their office for the last two years. As a result, it was revealed that a quarter of all respondents who took part in the survey, found the sexual banter around their workplace as "fun" and "flattering." Another 50 per cent said that they were not offended by it.

When the scientists broke it down by gender, it turned out that 46 per cent of men but just 10 per cent of women said that they enjoyed hearing the raunchy jokes or comments by co-workers about their own sexual adventures. The study found that while men showed the same reaction to any kind of inappropriate talk in any context, ladies were much less tolerant of sexual comments that were directed at them or about them, as well as physical advances by colleagues.

In addition, it was found that while people might find it exciting to engage in sexually charged banter, it does not result into more happiness or productivity at work. In fact, the workers who were most positive about enjoying dishonorable and vulgar conversations, were more likely to say that they felt less valued and were less productive compared to those employees who did not appreciate seductive approach. Also, each person who was subject to the banter, tended to: lose interest in their work, think more and more about finding another job, neglect their duties, consume more alcohol, and report more symptoms of depression, compared to employees who experienced little to none of this behavior.

"We approached the study with an open mind," Jennifer Berdahl said. "We expected that people who enjoy these acts would derive some benefits from them, however we were very surprised to find that even those who say that they enjoy it, do not benefit from it." In conclusion, the scientists said that the findings should be treated as "sage advice" in order to avoid inappropriate and raunchy behavior in the workplace.

The study is published in the latest issue of the Journal of Applied Psychology.