Incivility Reaches Record High with Political Viewpoint Differences Pointed Out as Top Contributor, New SHRM Research Finds

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – SHRM, the trusted authority on all things work, today released new data from its Civility Index research, revealing incivility has surged since Election Day. The research highlights political viewpoint differences as a key driver, with 56% of U.S. workers citing this as a top contributor to incivility encountered in the workplace.

In Q4, U.S. workers scored a 49.7 on the Civility Index when asked about incivility they personally experienced or witnessed in their everyday lives. This society-level score is the highest on record for 2024 and it reflects similarly in the workplace with work-related incivility scoring 40.9.  

"Workplace incivility is no longer a background issue – it’s a crisis demanding immediate attention. SHRM's latest research underscores the deep impact of societal divides on our workplaces and communities,” said Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., President and CEO of SHRM. “As leaders, we have a responsibility to act now and address this head-on by fostering environments where respect and empathetic dialogue thrive. SHRM is committed to equipping organizations with the tools needed to navigate these challenges."

Key Findings from SHRM’s Q4 Civility Index: 

• U.S. workers collectively witnessed or experienced more than 222 million acts of incivility per day in everyday life, another record high for 2024.
• 44% of U.S. workers believe U.S. residents’ ability to be civil toward one another will likely get worse in 2025, citing differences in political viewpoints as driving factors.
• 26% of U.S. workers say they will likely leave their job in the new year because of incivility. 
• Businesses collectively lose $2.7 billion a day due to incivility causing reduced productivity and absenteeism. 
  • This represents an average daily cost increase compared to Q3 of nearly $600 million. 
• 60% of workers say they believe it is important or very important for their company/organization to address civil discourse among employees in 2025.

The average number of uncivil acts workers encounter per day in everyday life increased to 1.34 times per day, the highest rate in 2024. In addition to political viewpoint differences, these acts were most often fueled by the 2024 U.S. general election results, differences related to opinions on social issues, racial or ethnic differences, and the state and direction of U.S. society today.

SHRM offers resources for fostering workplace civility, including our Civility Starter Kit, which includes:

• Political Conversations Playbook: A guide designed to empower employers with the tools and insights necessary to navigate the complex landscape of political discussions in the workplace.
• 5-Step Guide to Encouraging Civil Conversations at Work: A practical guide to giving teams a leg up on fostering civility every day in the workplace.
• Cards Against Incivility: Conversation starters for team building designed to encourage open communication and reinforce the importance of respectful dialogue in the workplace.

Methodology: 

A sample of 1,622 U.S.-based workers was surveyed between Nov. 7 and Nov. 12, 2024, using a third-party online panel. For the purposes of this study, participants were required to be employed by an organization. Those who were self-employed, retired, or an independent contractor did not qualify to participate. The data was weighted to reflect the U.S. working population as of October 2024 on the basis of gender, race/ethnicity, age, full-time/part-time status, and location based on U.S. Census division.

About SHRM [Pronounced “SHERM”]

SHRM is a member-driven catalyst for creating better workplaces where people and businesses thrive together. As the trusted authority on all things work, SHRM is the foremost expert, researcher, advocate, and thought leader on issues and innovations impacting today’s evolving workplaces. With nearly 340,000 members in 180 countries, SHRM touches the lives of more than 362 million workers and their families globally. Discover more at SHRM.org.