Passive aggression can manifest in multiple ways, but it typically involves avoiding direct conflict. The passive-aggressive person is motivated by their fear of expressing their anger directly. It is a defensive and ingrained behavior.
Fortunately, managers can learn to recognize the patterns of passive-aggressive workers, then deftly guide them to change that behavior, according to Nora Femenia. She shares ways to recognize and address passive-aggressive behaviors.
Source: SHRM, April 6, 2021. Link. Passive-aggressive people, Femenia said, worry that if they express anger, the target of their anger will abandon them—or, if it’s their manager, fire them.