Is My Workplace Toxic?
A contemporary word seeming to be prevalent in conversations around relationships, mental health, and gender roles is the “toxic”. Phrases such as “toxic masculinity” and “toxic traits” are often used frequently used to describe unhelp or damaging behaviours. Now, we the word toxic in reference to how a work environment can be damaging for some, making going to work a terrifying and dreadful experience. 2021 saw the rise in employee turnover, also known as the “Great Resignation” with employees finding the toxic workplace culture too much to sustain.
Glassdoor report that over 1.4 million anonymous employee reviews on Glassdoor were analysed by MIT Sloan Management Review to uncover the reason for resigning from their jobs. It 5 most common signs of a toxic workplace were identified in addition to the fact that US employees were 10 times more likely to leave their jobs because of workplace toxicity, rather than due to compensation issues.
Working somewhere that is toxic can have devastating effects on one’s mental health, causing issues such as anxiety and even depression. The potential health risks to employees make it even more imperative for the issues to be addressed through awareness and consequent action. The first step both employees and companies can do is to educate themselves on what a toxic workplace is to ensure their cultural traits or business practices that might meet the criteria.
Is My Workplace Toxic?
It can be argued that the definition of a toxic workplace is actually subjective - down to individual interpretation based on their experience, morals, and belief systems. However, the concept of equity, diversity, and inclusion (ED&I) is based on what is considered to be fruitful and healthy for all employees from various walks of life. This means that a toxic workplace can be measured up against ED&I best practices, many of which are actually informed by the feedback of employees. A toxic workplace therefore ultimately is one where the majority of employees feel chronically unhappy and this can be due to a myriad of reasons which will be discussed.
Attributes of a Toxic Workplace
Bullying/Abuse: No one at work should feel singled out due to their varying neuro or physical characteristics, culture, or disabilities. To mock a colleague due to these reasons, or for the purposes of making them feel inferior is classified as bullying and discrimination.
Furthermore, condescending, disrespectful, or insulting verbiage is donned as abuse, in addition to hostility and of course, physical attacks or harassment.
Unethical practices: A workplace can also be deemed toxic if it lacks inclusivity. If an employee finds that certain groups or demographics they belong to are marginalised or not adequately represented, it can be an isolating experience. Making an employee or group of employees feel as if they’re not cared for in having a sense of belonging is a threat to their sense of self. It can lead the person to experience self-loathing which can quickly transform into social anxiety and depression.
A working environment that also lacks ethical practice is one that communicates a lack of integrity to its employees, and can therefore make them feel unsafe. Falter of ethics can be in the form of no corporate social responsibility (CSR), absence of governance or regulation, or failure to comply with legal obligations. If an organisation, for example, has no HR function and thus fails to pay their employees in line with the industry standard or inflation then they are not acting ethically. Another instance of unethical practice is when a company makes claims such as “we are a paperless company” (in an attempt to be environmentally friendly) but actually uses excessive amounts of paper daily, then they are unethical not only in their practice but by being dishonest in their PR and communications.
Hostile environment: An office or workplace should be an open, welcoming, and peaceful environment. If a working environment feels frosty and hostile, making you feel uncomfortable and uneasy then it is not a healthy environment to be in. Moreover, every company should value and protect all employees and the culture should be one of nurturing and wellness. Constant workplace scandals or dramas, cliques, and heavy performance pressure are conducive to toxicity. An organisation should encourage performance by equipping them with tools and resources to start to excel and by training their employees whilst gracefully and correcting when warranted.
Overall, whether a workplace is toxic is a subjective issue, and purely down to the employee's needs, attributes and perceptions. It is important to be mindful and in tune with your personal needs and see if a workplace culture aligns with your belief sets, goals, and personality.
Combating toxic work cultures:
If you, a colleague, or an employee have identified with any of the former points and recognised your working environment as toxic, then there are a myriad of things that be done to address the issues:
Finding a trusted colleague or group you can confide in
Having people around you who can support you and be both a listening ear and sounding board can help you get through the difficult periods and not feel so isolated.
2. Plan an exit strategy
When a workplace becomes critically toxic and is affecting your happiness, it is important to prioritise your mental health and happiness. Planning an exit strategy may involve deciding on when you want to resign, defining what your next role will entail, and finally, giving yourself the additional support and aftercare that may be necessary after a difficult experience.
3. Raise your concerns to a receptive senior worker, your line manager, or HR
If you feel comfortable enough, it may be fruitful to communicate your experience and feelings with someone within the company who can assist you in bringing change. A receptive colleague will allow you to freely speak honestly, ask what you would like to happen moving forward, and offer you advice and support.
4. Seek mental health and well-being support
Often during complex work situations, leaving might not be an immediately available option. If this is the case, seeking out professional help such as a counsellor or a well-being worker could help in dealing with the emotions and feelings being experienced.
One of the most effective ways that a company can fortify against creating a toxic workplace is by having a strategic plan for how to create a nurturing and inclusive culture. Find out can Can?Did! can help you create a healthy work culture with thriving employees.