A toxic work environment is a hostile workplace that causes severe disruptions to your daily life. The effects of these disruptions could manifest in a variety of physical signs, such as insomnia, sweaty palms, and a thumping heartbeat. They also impact your personal life by causing damage to all aspects of your life, from self-esteem to friends.
Signs of a Toxic Workplace
Malign Leadership
Your boss or higher-ups demand that you agree with them. They tell you they’re right and enjoy the feeling of superiority. They expect everyone else to be flawless while achieving lower standards. This kind of leader uses fear instead of rewards to motivate their subordinates.
High Turnover
Workers will begin to look towards the exit when the working environment offers nothing positive other than a lack of morale, dysfunction, and sickness. If you see high levels of turnover in your department or company, consider it a sign of a dysfunctional workplace.
Noxious Competition
The power of competition is an effective motivator, but not if managers use it to put employees against one another using harmful methods. It causes fighting or drama and even anger among employees.
Gossips & Rumors
Everybody seems to be looking out for their benefit. There aren’t any real friendships between coworkers. There are many fights, a sense of paranoia, and office gossip and reports.
Employee Sickness
Intoxicated workplaces can lead to employees suffering from fatigue, burnout, and illness due to excessive stress levels, which wreaks destruction on our bodies. Suppose employees call in sick or, even worse, suffer from illness. In that case, that’s an indication of a toxic workplace.
No Excitement for Work
Check out the office. Does anyone seem content in the office? Are they ever smiling? If most employees appear miserable at the company, it’s easy to conclude that the workplace is unhealthy.
How to Handle a Toxic Work Environment
Network of Trusted Coworkers
Toxic workplaces are full of individuals who are self-centered and judgmental, and they are also manipulative. It’s easy to believe that no one’s calm, but identifying your tribe can help you face a demanding boss or coworker who isn’t willing to listen to your suggestions. Find friends who have the same feelings as you do. So you will be able to keep an eye on each other and share any news with the group.
Maintain Work-Life Balance
You’re either working or thinking about your work when you’re not working at all. It’s time to take some time away from coworkers and their endless stream of texts, emails, and phone calls, all of which have been deemed urgent. It’s normal to work through lunch while trying to squeeze in meals between filing reports at your desk or constantly canceling evening plans to stay up late and wrap the work. Set boundaries so you can maintain a career and an existence. Having healthy boundaries can lessen work’s effect on other aspects of your life. Make friends outside of work, and don’t reveal too many personal details in your work.
Be Focused on Goal
Don’t let workplace gossip distract you from being focused on your work. And do not engage in discussion. One of the fastest methods of destroying trust with your coworkers is to spread gossip. Focus on the tasks you have in hand and use your skills like an art.
Be Nice to Everyone
The toxic workplaces tend to be highly competitive, making employees feel they need to overcome their colleagues to reach the highest level. Don’t stoop down to their standards. Instead, deal with them with compassion. Find ways to help others and provide value to them, even to those who are toxic. In the end, people will appreciate your services, leading to them believing in your services. It could take some time to get there, and they may be hostile towards other people. Still, their interactions with you will improve, affecting the work environment. Even if they don’t seem to get any more excellent, remember all of them are temporary people in your life. You don’t have to always carry their words and actions in your heart and mind.
Plan Your Exit Strategy
There is a chance that things will improve at your workplace. In that case, it may be a good idea to stay. While you’re waiting for it to work out, start looking for the right job. It will help you remain confident when things get tough. If you had to quit today, consider the possibility of a bridge job to keep you busy until you can find a job that aligns with your professional goals.
Knowing the indicators of a toxic workplace and how to manage it will help you make your next move at your own pace and on your own time so that your next job can be one you enjoy working.