As for attitudes, I think that there are absolutely times when it would be justifiable to discipline someone who is in need of a serious attitude adjustment. This is particularly true when the problem employee’s disparagement comes in the form of personal attacks on other employees.

With that said, I think that attitude problems can be misdiagnosed as a result of the different lenses through which generations view the world. In addition to trying to cut down on opportunities that are given to smart-asses, one of the goals of the cliché killer feature is to show employers that sarcasm is a major outlet for young people, myself included. As such, it isn’t always a sign of a bad attitude, maladjustment, or even insubordination. Sometimes it’s just the way we interact with the world.

Look for more on this soon, I’d like to tackle it at length.

I’d like to hear more from you on the impact of sarcasm and cynicism in the workplace. Do you think these attitudes (what else would you call them) are helpful or harmful to a positive work environment? Are they harmful enough to validate disciplining someone for being outwardly cynical or sarcastic?