11 signs of a toxic work environment and how to deal with it
Toxic work environments are characterised by destructive behaviours that have a negative impact on employee well-being and morale, but also on productivity.
A multi-faceted problem for many enterprises, toxic work environments are places where manipulation, harassment and bullying are commonplace, creating a hostile atmosphere that is bad for businesses and their staff. Here we explore some of the indicators of a toxic workplace, their negative effects and how to deal with the situation.
Negative Behaviours
Common behaviours in a toxic workplace include yelling, bullying, belittling and manipulating. Staff in a toxic work environment are often nervous to voice their opinions, share ideas and raise concerns because they’re scared that they’ll be reprimanded or rejected.
Poor Communication
Unclear expectations, and poor levels of transparency are examples of a lack of communication in a toxic workplace.
Zero trust
Toxic work environments not only find employees afraid to speak out and feeling undervalued, but also distrusted by their managers.
Bad leadership
Poor support from staff in leadership roles, favouritism and micromanagement all contribute to a toxic environment.
Poor work-life balance
Toxic cultures often normalise unhealthy boundaries, pushing staff to prioritize work above all. Demands for a lack of work-life balance, excessive workloads and unreasonable demands all indicate a toxic workplace.
Weak Morale
Staff lacking enthusiasm, expressing negativity about attending work and exhibiting stress are all toxic workplace indicators.
High employee turnover
High staff turnover rates are always a red flag for work culture. Low pay and limited room for growth force people to leave, but so does a toxic working environment.
Stifled development
When staff see no opportunities for learning or advancement, they feel unmotivated and stagnant.
Burnout
Toxic environments can make staff feel they are in danger and trigger a “fight or flight” response. Over an extended time, this impacts physical and mental health, leading to stress, depression, anxiety even and total burnout.
Exclusionary activities
Any type of verbal abuse, discrimination or intimidation is a sign of a toxic workplace.
Workplace drama and gossip
While a little office gossip is normal, in toxic work environments it’s often extreme. Clear communication is replaced with snide comments and whispering. When staff gossip about each another, their negative conversations cause distractions, drama and hurt feelings.
Understanding the impact of a toxic working environment
The negative effects of a toxic workplace are felt by all employed at an enterprise, but also hurt the business itself. As staff experience increased stress and decreased morale, they lose job satisfaction and either perform poorly or seek out more favourable employment opportunities. As a result, companies experience a drop in productivity and a rise in staff turnover, leading to disruptions and slower and impeded workflow and causing a loss of profits.
What you can do if you find yourself in a toxic working environment
Employees that find themselves in a workplace showing signs of toxicity must decide whether to stay or leave. If they enjoy their role and feel that there is a chance for change, they must take steps to protect themselves. This starts by documenting all incidents that occur in detail that clearly show evidence of a toxic workplace. Staff can then take their findings to Human Resources (HR) and explain their concerns.
If staff feel that they are being bullied, harassed, yelled at or asked to perform unreasonable tasks, they can set boundaries with their management. If their managers fail to listen and continue their toxic behaviours, employees can return to HR.
Employees that find themselves in a toxic work environment often find that building a supportive network within a company can help. Having colleagues that understand the situation and offer support can alleviate stress and anxiety while trying to achieve positive change in the workplace. When problems cannot be resolved and working environments show no signs of improving, the only solution may be to leave.
HR transformation to eradicate toxic work environments
Human Resources departments are where changing a toxic workplace starts. With correct HR project management, enterprises can put procedures and processes in place that create productive working environments. At FiveRivers, our services are designed with the aim of bringing positive HR change to companies at an organisational level. Touch base with our expert team today for lasting positive change.