Is Your Boss a Bully, or Just a Tough Cookie?

by Catherine MatticeJul 18, 2012

The key to adapting in the work environment to better accommodate your job depends on what kind of boss you have as well as your attitude.

Incivility, bullying, and harassment occur because the culture allows them to. Before starting inclusivity initiatives, you’ve got to stop bad behavior. Take this assessment to determine if your workplace fosters a positive culture.

About Catherine Mattice

Catherine Mattice, MA, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, is the founder/CEO of Civility Partners, an organizational development firm focused on helping organizations create respectful workplace cultures and specializing in turning around toxic cultures. Civility Partners’ clients range from Fortune 500’s to small businesses across many industries. Catherine is a TEDx speaker and an HR thought-leader who has appeared in such venues as USA Today, Bloomberg, CNN, NPR, and many other national news outlets as an expert. She’s an award-winning speaker, author and blogger, and has 50+ courses reaching global audiences on LinkedIn Learning. Catherine’s award-winning book, BACK OFF! Your Kick-Ass Guide to Ending Bullying at Work, was hailed by international leadership-guru, Ken Blanchard, as, “the most comprehensive and valuable handbook on the topic.” Her latest book is Navigating Toxic Work Environments For Dummies (Wiley).

Offensive Terms to Avoid: What You Say Matters More Than You Think

by Catherine Mattice | April 16, 2025 | DEI | 0 Comments

According to SHRM, 66% of U.S. employees have experienced or witnessed incivility in their workplace. The most common forms include addressing others disrespectfully and interrupting others while they are speaking. Meanwhile, a Deloitte survey reveals that 84% of...

Celebrate Diversity With Music: A Playlist for Inclusivity

by Jennifer Areola | April 9, 2025 | DEI | 0 Comments

A few years back, we put together a playlist for inclusivity in the office and it quickly became one of our most popular blogs, proving that something as simple as music can strike a big chord (pun intended) as people find solidarity in it. So we thought, why not do...

Join our FREE WEBINAR – Fostering a Workplace Where Feedback Fuels Change

by Jennifer Areola | March 19, 2025 | Workplace bullying | 0 Comments

Imagine this: A senior leader makes an offhanded, inappropriate remark in a team meeting. The room tenses, eyes drop, and a few uncomfortable chuckles fill the silence. No one speaks up. You’re caught off guard, unsure what to do. Later, someone from that meeting...

Silence Is Not Golden: 5 Ways Lack of Feedback Kills Productivity

by Catherine Mattice | March 12, 2025 | Corporate Culture & Employee Engagement | 0 Comments

Whenever you search on Google or ask ChatGPT for something, you get an answer in a snap. An unintended result of this technology is that we expect immediate feedback from people, too. A lack of feedback kills productivity. In 2008, tech scholar Nicholas Carr raised a...

5 Ways to Give Feedback to a Toxic Worker About Their Toxic Behavior

by Catherine Mattice | March 5, 2025 | Workplace bullying | 0 Comments

If you’ve landed on this page, chances are you’re looking for answers. Maybe you’ve tried everything, or maybe you’re bracing yourself for a conversation you’d rather not have. Or you don't know how to give feedback to a toxic worker about their behavior. Either way,...

It’s Not All in Your Head: 5 Signs You’re In a Toxic Workplace

by Catherine Mattice | February 27, 2025 | Workplace bullying | 0 Comments

If you’ve ever questioned whether your workplace is truly toxic or if you’re just “overreacting,” you’re not alone. The truth is, if work feels unbearable day after day, it’s not a bad week—it’s a bigger problem. It could be signs you're in a toxic workplace. Research...

Struggling with a Toxic Boss? Read This

by Catherine Mattice | February 18, 2025 | Workplace bullying | 0 Comments

Did you know that seven in ten U.S. workers say they would leave a job if they had a bad manager? That’s according to the latest findings of LinkedIn’s Workforce Confidence survey. Leaders who exhibit challenging behaviors don’t just cost their organizations talented...

NEW BOOK: Navigating a Toxic Work Environment for Dummies

by Catherine Mattice | February 12, 2025 | Workplace bullying | 0 Comments

Does your workplace feel like a daily battle for survival? Endless conflict, backstabbing, bullying, and leadership that turns a blind eye… Sound familiar? For too many professionals, the workplace isn’t a place of productivity and growth; it’s a source of anxiety and...

DEI needed if hiring on merit is your goal

by Catherine Mattice | February 4, 2025 | DEI | 0 Comments

Trump has initiated a series of actions aimed at dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives within the federal government. On January 20, he signed Executive Order 14151, titled "Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and...

The Transformative Power of Hands-On vs. AI Training

by Catherine Mattice | January 29, 2025 | Leadership | 0 Comments

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the workplace, and HR functions are no exception. From recruitment to onboarding and even manager training, AI-based platforms are becoming the go-to solution for many organizations. These programs promise scalable,...