C2.3
Tracks
Stream C
| Thursday, October 29, 2026 |
| 3:45 PM - 4:00 PM |
Overview
Beyond Thick Skin: Unmasking the Real Impact of Incivility for Young Australian Workers | 15 mins
Presenter
Ms Anna Holder-greaves
University of the Sunshine Coast
Beyond Thick Skin: Unmasking the Real Impact of Incivility for Young Australian Workers
3:45 PM - 4:00 PMAbstract
Aim
Workplace incivility (WI) is a psychosocial hazard involving low-intensity deviant behaviour that is ambiguous in nature, such as social exclusion or discourteous remarks (Andersson & Pearson, 1999). While extensively researched in adults, the 15 to 24 age group remains under-studied. This research aims to examine the prevalence of WI among young Australian workers and investigate how their developmental stage influences the relationship between incivility and wellbeing.
Method
A mixed-methods survey (N = 200) compared adolescent and older worker cohorts. Validated quantitative scales measured workplace behaviour, psychosocial safety climate (PSC), and employee wellbeing. Six qualitative questions explored contextual triggers of incivility, barriers to speaking up, response decision-making, self-reflection, virtual incivility, and perceived prevention strategies.
Expected Results
Data collection is currently ongoing and the presentation will discuss these findings in detail. It is hypothesised that the 15 to 24 cohort will report a significantly higher prevalence of WI compared to older workers, with a more severe impact on wellbeing. This vulnerability is attributed to their specific developmental stage, characterised by heightened social sensitivity and maturing social-cognitive systems which may make WI harder to navigate (Garagiola et al., 2022; Steinberg, 2005). The qualitative data is expected to reveal that precarious employment and low organisational support further exacerbate these effects, making the "thick skin" often expected of young workers difficult to maintain.
Significance and Proposed Contributions
By reframing early career incivility as a psychosocial risk rather than a professional rite of passage, this research advocates for targeted, developmentally informed protections. Anticipated findings aim to identify the specific Psychosocial Safety Climate (PSC) factors and organisational resources necessary to protect young workers. Ultimately, this work seeks to inform national policy, preventing the internalisation of harmful workplace norms to foster a healthier, more respectful future Australian workforce.
Workplace incivility (WI) is a psychosocial hazard involving low-intensity deviant behaviour that is ambiguous in nature, such as social exclusion or discourteous remarks (Andersson & Pearson, 1999). While extensively researched in adults, the 15 to 24 age group remains under-studied. This research aims to examine the prevalence of WI among young Australian workers and investigate how their developmental stage influences the relationship between incivility and wellbeing.
Method
A mixed-methods survey (N = 200) compared adolescent and older worker cohorts. Validated quantitative scales measured workplace behaviour, psychosocial safety climate (PSC), and employee wellbeing. Six qualitative questions explored contextual triggers of incivility, barriers to speaking up, response decision-making, self-reflection, virtual incivility, and perceived prevention strategies.
Expected Results
Data collection is currently ongoing and the presentation will discuss these findings in detail. It is hypothesised that the 15 to 24 cohort will report a significantly higher prevalence of WI compared to older workers, with a more severe impact on wellbeing. This vulnerability is attributed to their specific developmental stage, characterised by heightened social sensitivity and maturing social-cognitive systems which may make WI harder to navigate (Garagiola et al., 2022; Steinberg, 2005). The qualitative data is expected to reveal that precarious employment and low organisational support further exacerbate these effects, making the "thick skin" often expected of young workers difficult to maintain.
Significance and Proposed Contributions
By reframing early career incivility as a psychosocial risk rather than a professional rite of passage, this research advocates for targeted, developmentally informed protections. Anticipated findings aim to identify the specific Psychosocial Safety Climate (PSC) factors and organisational resources necessary to protect young workers. Ultimately, this work seeks to inform national policy, preventing the internalisation of harmful workplace norms to foster a healthier, more respectful future Australian workforce.
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Anna Holder-Greaves is a confirmed PhD candidate in Organisational Psychology at the University of the Sunshine Coast. Her research focuses on developing evidence-based intervention frameworks to mitigate workplace incivility and enhance psychosocial safety, with the overarching goal of making work safer for all Australians.
A seasoned wellbeing professional with over two decades of international experience, Anna previously held strategic management roles in the United Kingdom, leading complex health programs and organisational change. More recently, she has designed and delivered high-impact workshops on psychosocial hazards and wellbeing conversations for major organisations across the government, private, and non-profit sectors. Currently based on the Sunshine Coast, Anna practices as a Rehabilitation Counsellor specialising in tertiary rehabilitation for individuals with complex mental health barriers or traumatic brain injuries. Her work is dedicated to translating intricate rehabilitation principles into practical, evidence-based strategies that foster resilience and psychological safety.
