This book investigates the subtle, often overlooked forms of negative conduct that undermine organizational health and individual performance. Jerald Greenberg, a prominent scholar in organizational behavior, utilizes extensive psychological research and workplace studies to categorize behaviors that fall below the threshold of overt harassment but remain damaging to productivity. The text provides a framework for identifying these insidious actions, such as social undermining, incivility, and passive-aggressive communication, while analyzing their long-term impact on employee morale and corporate culture.

Experts in organizational psychology recognize this work as a rigorous examination of the hidden costs associated with toxic workplace environments. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which serves as a foundational resource for human resources professionals and management scholars seeking to address non-obvious behavioral issues.