Date of Conferral

2017

Degree

Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.)

School

Management

Advisor

Jamiel Vadell

Abstract

Workplace incivility is increasing in prevalence in healthcare organizations. Despite the adverse effects of workplace incivility on employee engagement and voluntary employee turnover, some organizations do not have policies to address workplace incivility among employees. The purpose of this descriptive, single case study was to explore successful strategies leaders at healthcare organizations with 50 or more employees used to reduce workplace incivility and improve employee retention. The spiral theory provided the conceptual framework for the study. Semistructured interviews were held with 2 human resources (HR) professionals and 1 department manager with experience dealing with employee relations and success in retaining healthcare employees within Greenville, South Carolina. Interviews and policies were reviewed, analyzed, and coded for themes and subthemes. To assure the credibility and trustworthiness of the findings, member checking and methodological triangulation were used to verify and compare the interpretations from the interviews and the organization's policies and processes. Among the key themes that emerged were the uniform use of strategies and processes for addressing workplace incivility including consistently communicating and enforcing policies for addressing workplace incivility, using one-on-one communication techniques between managers and employees, and addressing key implementation barriers such as resistance to change. To effect positive social change, HR professionals and department managers in similar organizations can assess the findings' relevance for reducing workplace incivility, reducing employee turnover, and increasing retention for improving the quality of patient care to benefit patients, families, and communities.

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