7 Warning Signs You’re in a Toxic Work Environment
Do not ignore them!
When you come to work, do you feel something is off?
You might not know what. Yet, the environment does not feel comfortable. Toxic workplaces can appear subtle. They influence both your private and professional life.
Nonetheless, it does not mean work is toxic if you do not enjoy your job. There are some clear signs of toxic workplaces to watch out for. They are not always obvious since not everything is about bad bosses.
Let’s see if you struggle with a potentially toxic workplace.
What is a toxic workplace?
In APA’s 2023 Work in America workforce survey, 19% of respondents labeled their workplace as toxic. More than one in five respondents (22%) said their work environment has harmed their mental health. - apa.org
A “toxic workplace” described by 1.4 million Glassdoor reviews is:
Disrespectful
Non-inclusive
Unethical
Cutthroat
Abusive
The toxic workplace can feel different for various people. Some see problems in personal conflicts, others in micromanagement, or behavioral patterns supporting pressure, yelling, bullying, or even sexual harassment.
Whenever you do not feel well at work, think about why. Is it because the culture is pretentious? That your teammates smile at you, but they are uncooperative and sabotage your efforts?
The toxic culture can make you sick, demotivated, and lose trust in the system. Is it time to quit?
1. Poor communication and transparency
Secrets, confidentiality, silos, one-way cascades, withholding information, etc. No answer to ‘why’ should be a red flag.
Poor communication is a sign that something is not working. If you feel you cannot express your opinion, or disagreement, or say things as they are, you might not be in the healthiest environment.
When speaking out is punished, and dissent is shut down, you know communication is an issue.
2. Bending processes
Do you remember this quote from George Orwell’s 1984?
All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.
You have company processes, but they do not apply to everyone. As a result, there are discrepancies in time sheets. Only some have privileges, access to information, inconsistencies, etc.
How come you have to follow an official process when others can bend it? Keep your eyes open. Bending processes indicate favoritism and poor leadership.
3. Poor leadership
There are many different types of toxic managers. For example:
A great performer who sees numbers before anything else.
A best friend who promises everything to everyone.
A micromanager who will sit on your shoulders and suck your blood like a tick.
An invisible gangster who is never around.
A vivid complainer who loves swimming in problems instead of solving them.
“You don’t leave a job, you leave a bad boss.” Leaders set tone, values, and examples. Many bad bosses are products of their bosses. Some patterns are repetitive.
When you promote a toxic coworker, you will have a toxic manager. Don’t give people who care about themselves, give ultimatums, or are high performers a pass.
You need leaders who care about people, foster relationships, work well with resources and development, and get things done.
4. Tolerating disrespectful behavior
Gossip, harassment, bullying, inappropriate jokes, insults, etc. These have no place in a safe and inclusive environment. They should not be tolerated.
Yet, many teams struggle with the idea of being a whistleblower or feeling they have no one to talk to. Let’s just blend in and ignore it instead of going into a conflict.
Disrespectful behavior is a big sign of a toxic culture.
5. Favoritism
Yes, you won’t like everyone you work with. That is fine as long as it does not hinder diverse perspectives or growth opportunities.
I’ve seen disputable decisions to promote people with proper experience or qualifications to take on management jobs. Why? They were good friends with the CEO.
If this is a trend, don’t wait to become a corporate snake. Go and search for something new.
6. Increased competition and individualism
Uncooperative teams, backstabbing, throwing others under the bus, and I before anyone else.
It does not sound healthy, does it? Notice if your coworkers walk around corridors and whisper their poison. Some are masters of sabotaging others’ efforts. They wish to climb the ladder. Get more money. They are not afraid of using unfair methods.
Your work is full of individuals who work next to each other but not together. Teamwork is just an illusion. Everyone has his own agenda. It can be extremely toxic to work with such people.
7. Turnover
A high employee turnover is a really good sign of a toxic workplace. Read reviews and try to ask around why people quit. If you notice more and more people are making such decisions, then it should get you thinking.
Turnover usually has some reason. It could be a lack of direction, poor growth opportunities, bad leadership, or a non-inclusive culture. Whatever it is, be sure to understand what is happening.
Turnover can be natural but also caused by certain events or even people.
Should you stay or should you leave?
It is probably fair to say that if you experience stress, feel drained, or have long-term mental discomfort, consider leaving. No work or money is worth your health.
The question in the air is: Aren’t you part of the problem? Don’t you support the toxic culture in some way?
The biggest question I'm still pondering after leaving corporate healthcare nearly 1 year ago is...what was this environment teaching me about myself and how can I apply it to building my dream business?