Ugh! We’ve endured a week of bad celebrity behavior. Serena Williams threw a profanity-laced finger pointing fit at a U.S. Open lines woman on Sunday. That same night, Kanye West leaped onto the stage to steal the thunder from Taylor Swift at the VMA’s. (MTV’s video music awards, for those of you who don’t have fifteen year old, music obsessed, twins as I do!) And don’t even get me started on the outburst by Representative Joe Wilson during President Obama’s health care speech.

Then of course, we’ve had a summer of snarling crowds at all the health care town meetings: boos, and jeers and general bad behavior. And then there are the contractors in Afghanistan who thought that hazing rituals-including sexual jokes and threats-were the way to build a team.

Has the whole country lost its collective manners? Does everyone need anger management classes?

And most importantly, if all these stars get away with bad behavior, should you?

Or conversely, should you tolerate it in those you manage or your co-workers? The short answer is no. Behaving like a class act will always serve you, as I wrote in my book, Stop Pissing Me Off! What to do When the People You Work with Drive You Crazy. Your mother was right about this one: just because everyone else is behaving like barbarians, doesn’t mean that you should.

If you manage people who behave this way, as I wrote in my book, We Have to Talk: Tough Conversations with Your Employee, you should make clear and consistent statements about what constitutes good behavior, and enforce consequences when someone breaks the rules. Make sure that your policies cover what’s appropriate and what’s not. Have frequent discussions about the values you share as an organization and make sure that you walk the talk.

If your co-workers are behaving in an uncivilized manner, don’t hesitate to call them on it. Ask them to stop, telling them specifically what they’re doing that crosses the line, and most importantly, how you do want to be treated. As I wrote in my book, We Have to Talk: Tough Conversations with Your Boss, if they don’t stop, talk with your boss, HR or your boss’s boss.

The bottom line is that you have a right to be treated with respect at work.

Who was the real class act at the VMA’s? It was Beyonce.

Beyonce saved the week by graciously offering Taylor her own time in the spotlight. Noting her excitement about accepting her first award as a member of Destiny’s Child, Beyonce gave up her time to speak about her own award to Taylor. Her kindness and class will outlast Kanye’s snit.

Even if you’re planning on leaving an organization, go out with style. The world is becoming a very small place, you may well want to return or you may cross paths with your former boss in the same industry.

Be a class act. Be the one to exhibit the best behavior. Insist on it from your co-workers or employees.