Cynicism at Work

     "The changing nature of work and work organizations, particularly the breach and violation of the psychological contract is believed to have engendered a rise in employee cynicism and mistrust. Employee cynicism has been described as characterized by negative attitudes of frustration, disillusionment, and contempt toward and distrust of business organizations, executives, managers and other objects in the workplace. In a review article, Dean, Brandes, and Dharwadkar (1998) define employee cynicism as 'a negative attitude toward one's employing organization, comprising of three dimensions:

1) a belief that the organization lacks integrity
2) negative affect towards the organization; and
3) tendencies to exhibit disparaging and critical behaviors towards the organization that are consistent with these beliefs and affect.

     Employee cynicism has been proposed as a new paradigm of employee–employer relations as a result of longer working hours, work intensification, ineffective leadership and management, new deals in the workplace and the continual downsizing and delayering of organizations."

        Cartwright S, Holmes N. The meaning of work: The challenge of regaining employee engagement and reducing cynicism. Human Resource Management Review 2006; 16(2): 199-208.

     See also: http://www.johnlovas.com/2013/11/out-of-fearful-pessimism-we-isolate.html

 

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