At one time or another, every employee has experienced what it’s like to be in a difficult workplace. Perhaps a hyper-critical manager makes a habit of reprimanding workers in front of others. Or, a supervisor might insist that everyone do things his or her own way — or face consequences. A sick employee might be told that he or she needs to report to work regardless, or else pay will be docked. These and other tyrannical behaviors — even the smallest ones — can quickly add up to a toxic environment. Is Fear a Good Motivator? Research shows that as tools for motivating workers, fear and intimidation come with a lot of risk and have been largely discredited for some time.…