Unequal Experiences of Workplace Incivility: Marital Status and Job Designation among Agricultural Researchers

Abstract

Workplace incivility represents a subtle but consequential form of interpersonal mistreatment that can shape employees’ experiences within organizations. This study examined differences in workplace incivility among researchers working in an agricultural research institution in Punjab, Pakistan. Data were collected from 329 researchers through stratified sampling. Workplace incivility was assessed using a seven-item measure capturing experiences of disrespectful, dismissive, derogatory, exclusionary, and unprofessional behavior from superiors or coworkers. The measurement assessment indicated satisfactory item performance and strong internal consistency. Descriptive statistics were used to examine workplace-incivility scores across marital-status and job-designation groups. Welch’s ANOVA was employed to test group differences, followed by Games–Howell post hoc comparisons to identify specific between-group differences. The findings showed significant differences in workplace incivility across both marital-status and job-designation groups. Single researchers reported lower levels of incivility than married and divorced researchers, while married and divorced researchers did not differ significantly. Scientific Officers reported lower levels of incivility than both Senior Scientists and Principal Scientists, whereas Principal and Senior Scientists did not differ significantly. The findings highlight the importance of considering social and organizational positions when examining workplace incivility and contribute to understanding interpersonal workplace experiences within agricultural research institutions.