A toxic workplace is more than just a job you dislike. It is more than the occasional blue Monday. Or the colleague you don’t like. Or even the demanding boss created by a disappointing quarter.
A toxic workplace causes a cycle of challenges which impacts your wellbeing, motivation and self-esteem. A toxic workplace causes regular work-related dread and stress which is unrelenting.
We are not talking about utterly hostile workplaces here (i.e. if you have suffered abuse or harassment at work, or have seen or been impacted by illegal practices at your workplace). A toxic workplace (as opposed to an absolutely hostile one) can be harder to recognise.
If you have regularly experienced any of these signs, then it is time to realise that your workplace is toxic, and consider leaving it:
#1 Overworked and Underpaid
Toxic workplaces rarely stay at work.
If you find yourself regularly taking work home, checking your emails every evening, working hours you are not paid for, or constantly feeling stressed about work during your time off, then it is likely that your workplace is toxic.
The ‘push on’ mentality many of us adopt when faced with challenges will not help us in this scenario. In fact, pushing on can cause complete burnout, impact our physical and mental health, and wreck our confidence.
Work-life balance is not a fad or an unrealistic demand of a work-shy generation. It is a necessity for any kind of life worth living.
What should you do?
➔ Raise your workload with your line-manager or HR representative. Take evidence of the additional hours you have worked with you to the meeting.
➔ If nothing is done as a result of this meeting, if you feel you have not been taken seriously, or if you experience punitive action as a result of raising the issue, consider looking for employment elsewhere. If your workplace won’t protect your work-life balance, you should.
#2 The Monster Boss
It is often said that we do not leave a job, we leave a bad boss. As we should!
Watch out for the following red flags often displayed by monster bosses:
- Abuse - a serious red flag!
- Unrealistic demands and expectations
- Out of hours communication
- Poor communication and listening skills
- Failing to provide clarity
- Failing to reward hard work or provide opportunities for growth
- Lack of empathy
- Micromanaging and trust problems
- Lack of expertise and knowledge
Dealing with a bad boss can often leave us feeling exhausted, stressed and afraid. None of these feelings are healthy for either ourselves or for the productivity of the company.
What should you do?
➔ It is likely that you are not alone in your experience with a bad boss. Try talking to colleagues to see if there are any solutions - but avoid this turning into an unhelpful ranting session.
➔ Speak to a HR representative or perhaps the boss of your boss. Take evidence with you.
➔ Don’t be afraid to apply for other jobs, whether this is within your current workplace in a different department or at a completely new workplace. A boss that cannot empathise, listen or control their temper is unlikely to change.
#3 Feeling Undervalued
Regularly feeling undervalued at work is a clear sign that you should move on. Feeling undervalued undermines our work ethic and self-esteem. And it can come in many forms.
Perhaps you feel your paycheck undervalues the work, time and skills you bring to the table.
Perhaps you regularly experience a lack of respect in the workplace. Maybe a colleague or manager even takes credit for your work, leaving you feeling cheated of the credit you deserve.
Maybe you often work beyond the scope of your job title and role, yet are uncompensated or even passed over for a promotion to a role which you are, in effect, already doing without the job title.
As feeling regularly undervalued can damage your self-confidence, you may begin to feel that you are not performing well at work. You may even believe that the way you are treated is normal and that all working people feel undervalued. But this is not true.
What should you do?
➔ Express your feelings to your line manager. Be clear about what your workplace could do to help you feel more valued.
➔ If your workplace fails to make any of these adjustments, don’t be afraid to look for work elsewhere. Just because your current workplace doesn’t value you, doesn’t mean another company won’t see your worth.
#4 Toxic Workplace Culture
Often the most toxic workplaces are hard to spot from the outside because the toxicity is embedded in the workplace culture.
The following are clear signs that your workplace has an ingrained toxic culture:
- Issues with accountability and lack of trust
- Emotional blackmail and guilt-tripping used to make employees work harder or longer
- False promises, especially when relating to pay or promotion
- Corruption, cronyism or preferential treatment
- Rapid employee turnover or low employee motivation
- Never-ending gossip or drama
- Constant negativity
- A cliquey or even hostile atmosphere which leads to exclusion and bullying
- Lack of clarity, often caused by poor communication
- Power struggles
- Fear of retribution, which discourages asking for support or voicing an opinion
What should you do?
➔ Raising certain culture issues with management (e.g. bullying, lack of clarity, false promises or lack of accountability) may help.
➔ Avoiding certain behaviours or people could also help. For example, avoid the gossip around the kettle and find new workplace friends.
However, a toxic workplace culture is not something that can or will be changed overnight. Negative cultures are often deeply ingrained both within the company hierarchy and in the minds of its employees. If a negative workplace culture is impacting your ability to do your job, your wellbeing and self-esteem, and your attempts to raise or side-step the issue have failed, it’s time to leave.
