One "bad apple" does spoil the whole office

[almaty 19]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - One "bad apple" can spread negative behavior like a virus to bring down officemates or destroy a good team, according to a new study examining conflict in the workplace.

Negative behavior outweighs positive behavior, so a bad apple can spoil the whole barrel, but one or two good workers can't "unspoil" it, researchers at the University of Washington said in the current issue of the journal Research in Organizational Behavior.

"Companies need to move quickly to deal with such problems because the negativity of just one individual is pervasive and destructive and can spread quickly," said co-author Terence Mitchell, a professor of management and organization.

If a bad apple slips through screening in the hiring process, he or she should be placed to work alone as much as possible, the study's lead author, William Felps, said.

The study defines negative workers as those who do not do their fair share of the work, are chronically unhappy and emotionally unstable, or bully or attack others.

Felps said he was inspired to investigate workplace conflict by his wife's experience with a "bad apple" and what happened when the worker was out sick for several days.

"When he was gone my wife said the atmosphere of the office changed dramatically," Felps said. "People started helping each other, playing classical music on their radios, and going out for drinks after work. But when he returned to the office, things returned to the unpleasant way they were."

"He truly was the bad apple that spoiled the barrel," Felps said.

The researchers said they found that a single "toxic" or negative team member can be the catalyst for a group's downward spiral.

In a follow-up study, the researchers found the vast majority of the people they surveyed could identify at least one "bad apple" with whom they had worked and who had produced organizational dysfunction.

Hiring managers could head off the problem by being more thorough when screening potential employees, Felps said.

He recommends checking references and administering personality tests to weed out those who are "really low on agreeableness and emotional stability."

[almaty 19]

i havew worked at a few places where one chopf##k ruins the morale and teamwork of all others

[*julez* 124]

I sit right across from our bad apple. Sick of his Shyte attitude! It really does bring morale way down.

[Mary Lou 681]

I am working with one at the present, what makes it worse is this person is in a semi supervisor position Too right these people ruin morale and team work!!!!!! I have only been back in work for a month now and already i dread going in to this bs.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

i havew worked at a few places where one chopf##k ruins the morale and teamwork of all others

Just want to make the distinction between a bad apple and one who has been jaded by their boss.

[Fandango 1,439]

There's an apple at my office whom I would LOVE to punch is that bad?

[Reba 2]

we have one bad apple, and on top of her, we have an entire bushel department of bad apples that drags down the entire place. Every day I get up to go to work and just want to cry because I hate it so much

And this week, oh joy oh joy, I'm in a training class with the bad apple, and she's driving the entire class nutzoid! Ain't that nice?

bleah.

[Cassie 8]

My office is next door to our office's "bad apple", I've learned to steer clear of her on every second Monday, which is payroll submission day.

[Mephys 2]

We sure got one....he got hired in september and he is ruining everybody's work....even had to do overtime to make up for his mistakes...

Im telling you I'd rather to all of it by myself than having him touching my work

[Aymerlu 3]

Have one in my office. Everyone has been wanting to get rid of her for years, but nothing will get done.

[Mary Lou 681]

There's an apple at my office whom I would LOVE to punch is that bad?

NOPE!!!!!!!!

[SoL. 0]

"The study defines negative workers as those who do not do their fair share of the work, are chronically unhappy and emotionally unstable, or bully or attack others"

OMG I have a co worker that meets all the expectations of a bad apple as described above! She is such a bully and emotionally unstable.... But we have a new boss and she's on probation now

[Fandango 1,439]

There's an apple at my office whom I would LOVE to punch is that bad?

NOPE!!!!!!!!

She's the cheery azz kissing apple...i'm like HELLO YOU'RE SELF EMPLOYED!

I'm going to kick her

[SoL. 0]

There's an apple at my office whom I would LOVE to punch is that bad?

NOPE!!!!!!!!

She's the cheery azz kissing apple...i'm like HELLO YOU'RE SELF EMPLOYED!

I'm going to kick her

LOL find a pair of pointy boots

[Ban Hammer 13,345]

i havew worked at a few places where one chopf##k ruins the morale and teamwork of all others

where i work, we call that person the boss