Scapegoat Fever Could Infect the Workforce

Blame Game: As economic woes mount, companies should be on guard for a dramatic rise in the scapegoat phenomenon among their workforces. Paul Harvey, an assistant professor of management at the University of New Hampshire, says people who create workplace problems are more prone to point the finger at a co-worker. An obsession “with assigning blame in our culture” actually increases during uncertain economic times as people try to absolve themselves by making someone else a scapegoat, especially if job cuts appear likely. People unjustly painted as scapegoats also may have a difficult time correcting the record since their efforts are likely to be viewed as “desperate excuses”—particularly if a person’s boss is the one leading the scapegoat charge.