Large business organizations report an escalation in episodes of "desk rage," in which employees or angry ex-employees act out their frustrations violently by disrupting the workplace, and often increasing other workers' alienation in the process. Describe any incidents of "desk rage" that you may have heard about or experienced. What do you think can be done to solve the problems of alienation in the workplace?

According to the Cambridge Dictionary, Desk rage is extreme or violent anger shown by someone at workplace, especially when this is caused by worry or a difficult situation. The occurrence of desk rage is thought to be a function of various sources of stress.  For example, lost tempers, shouting matches and fistfights can be induced by overwork and crowding.

I heard about the following desk rage accident:

Costas worked long hours in cramped quarters at an Internet company in New York.  He continually had to deal with rushed deadlines, but he kept a check on his frustration over the work demands and his work environment.  One day his boss pushed him one time too many and Costas unloaded with an obscenity-laden tirade.  He quit his job one week later commenting, “Sometimes you just snap.

In addition to high work demands, many workers are finding themselves more cramped for space than ever before.  Perhaps due to cost-containment efforts and the price of commercial real estate, the average number of employees per square foot is at a peak level in many office spaces.  In addition, many employees commute long distances and by the time they reach their demanding and cramped work environments, they are already frustrated, if not irate, from battling traffic congestion.  The problem of stress appears to be more of an issue in larger organizations with approximately a third of employees in organizations with more than 1,000 people reporting that they are “at least somewhat” stressed whereas 16 percent of employees in organizations with fewer than 100 people report this level of stress.

A good approach to solving and managing the problems of desk rage should be by limiting working hours. The managers and decision makers need to realize the stressful environment under which the workers are working and should try best to limit the amount of hours being worked.

            Also, periodic relaxation is much needed to ease out the act of desk rage. Desk rage does not occur in a single day incident. Usually it is an accumulated explosion. Hence plan to take a few minutes off work to relax.  For instance, General Motors Corporation offers meditation and tai chi at is workout facilities.  At its tax center in Indianapolis, Ernst & Young has included golfing areas, fish tanks, and a recreation room where workers can nap.