ABSTRACT
Though often neglected, the social environment plays an important role in the success of startups and their evolution into thriving organizations. This chapter discusses both positive (i.e., social support and informal relationships) and negative (i.e., incivility, unhelpful social support, abuse, bullying, and sexual harassment) aspects of the social environment, and how they contribute to employee wellbeing and innovation—two outcomes highlighted as essential for developing a sustainable organization. Practical recommendations are provided for both fostering the positive aspects of the social environment and reducing the effects and prevalence of negative aspects. The chapter concludes with suggestions for future research.
