Log in or become a subscriber

There's a growing tendency for employees to use "boundary setting" to justify cold, impersonal behaviour, which might require employers to set more explicit expectations for professional conduct.

Lately, conflict expert and The Zalt Group director Zandy Fell has been hearing more employees make comments such as, "I'll be professional, but you can't force me to engage with this person", and, "For my own wellbeing, I'm putting up boundaries".

The problem is, their chosen boundaries are often "really harsh", she tells HR Daily.

"What they mean is, they'll avoid anything that's uncomfortable," she says, including even saying "good morning" to the person, or entering a meeting room if the other person is the only one in there...