ABSTRACT
Healthcare has had a long relationship with a culture of blame. Culture in healthcare is characterised by informal systems, workarounds, emergent behaviours and constant adaptations. In healthcare the increase of rudeness and incivility is a result of the negative workplaces, negative language, negative relationships and working conditions which include long hours, distractions, stress and a variety of pressures. There are cultures and subcultures, good and bad relationships, emergent behaviours and politics to contend with. The chapter explores culture, blame and shame, incivility and bullying as well as the hope that a restorative just culture can bring to all. Bullying affects different groups, especially those of diverse cultures, ethnicities or religion; these minorities are often the ones who are treated more harshly. High-performing teams promote a culture of honesty, authenticity and safe conflict. One of the issues Porath cites is globalisation – a person from one culture may unknowingly behave or speak in a way that offends someone from another culture.
