Bad bosses, crazy employees, and bad morals – all of these are part of what psychologists call a “toxic” workplace. Everyone has a bad day at work every now and then, but the people and practices in some workplaces can make you dread Monday mornings and feel defeated at the end of each work day.
If this describes you, then you are not alone. A 2019 survey by HR.com, an online community for human resource professionals, found that almost one in five American workers had left their jobs in the past 5 years due to poor corporate culture. Less than half of respondents agreed that their workplace is “positive and non-toxic”. More than half said negative stress was a problem when they were working.
Psychologists and recruiters say the coronavirus pandemic, which forced large numbers of workers to stay home and work remotely, made some jobs even more toxic. How do you know if your workplace has become toxic? And what should you do?
3 reasons why a workplace can become toxic
1. The boss is an idiot. Psychologist Paul White, PhD, is sharp in his feelings about what he calls “poisonous leaders.” “These people are bad,” says White, business consultant, speaker, and co-author of “Rising Above a Toxic Workplace: Taking Care of Yourself in an Unhealthy Environment”. “They’re manipulative, they distort the truth, and they appreciate things they haven’t done.”
To make matters worse, White suggests that many toxic executives have clinical narcissism or extreme self-interest at the expense of others. “It’s all about them and they use others for their own purposes. When a person is no longer serving a purpose, they are gone, ”says White.
While toxic leaders pretend they care about their organization’s goals, they are only motivated by one thing: improving their own lives, whether that means filling their pockets or building their resumes to move on to a better job. And those qualities aren’t limited to the person in the corner office, says White. Department heads and people in power within an organization can be a poisonous leader.
continuation
2. Your colleagues create chaos. An employee who often complains that they have too much work or their cubicle is too small may initially feel like someone you can confide in when you have problems yourself. But that negativity can get out of hand, says White. “Dysfunctional colleagues behave in such a way that they do not match reality,” he says. “They keep blaming others for their mistakes. They apologize and take no responsibility for their decisions. “
Worse, dysfunctional employees contribute to a toxic environment because they are unable to manage their emotions, says White, triggering outbursts of anger and frustration. They often feel entitled to privileges they haven’t earned, withhold information that you need to be successful, and even lie to your face.
3. The system is sick. Even if your boss and employees are kind and decent people, the organization can be structured to create a toxic environment. “A lack of communication is a clear sign of a toxic work environment,” says business psychologist Matthew Kerzner, PhD, director of the Center for Family Business Excellence Group at EisnerAmper, a major US accounting firm.
continuation
According to Kerzner, the management often does not formulate the goals of a company or the roles and responsibilities of its employees and criticizes the employees for not achieving their goals. “If you don’t get the information you need from your manager, you may not know what to focus on,” says Kerzner. “Failure to all row in the same direction can create a toxic environment and you may feel like you did something wrong.”
Another common problem, according to Kerzner, is that employees have no opportunity to develop their skills and feel they are adding value to the company. “If the organization doesn’t provide tools, leadership, and training that employees can use to feel they are making an impact, it can lead to poor work ethic,” says Kerzner. “The employees have the feeling that they are turning their wheels.”
The coronavirus pandemic created new types of toxicity in the workplace by forcing many of us to work remotely, Kerzner says. If you only see employees on a computer screen a few times a day, “you can feel like you’re on an island and not get the support and collaboration you need from colleagues,” says Kerzner. “Zoom and text messaging don’t replace space in the same room.”
The toll toxicity is increasing
No wonder here: the frustration of working in a toxic environment can mess up your home life. “They can get sore, irritable, and prickly,” says White. “You are nervous all the time and feel like you are going to lose it all the time.” If you can’t keep all of this at the door when you get home, your partner, children, and friends may find you unbearable, or you may withdraw, either because you are hiding your feelings or just not Have energy to deal with others. “That puts you away from potential sources of support,” says White.
Bringing tension home from work can put a strain on your body too, says White. “It’s amazing how many people get sick in stressful work environments,” he says, noting that problems such as insomnia, chronic headaches, back pain and other physical ailments are common among employees in toxic environments. “Listen to your body,” says White. “It will tell you when things are not going well at work
What can you do?
If you work with toxic materials, wear a Haz-Mat suit. If you work in a toxic workplace, you need to protect yourself too, says White.
Do your job. Don’t let the disastrous climate get in your responsibilities so that a toxic leader or dysfunctional coworker can’t accuse you of not doing your job, says White.
Write it down in writing. It is important to record a manager’s orders. Whenever you have a meeting where you have been reassigned a new responsibility or task, send an email to all of your managers. “It should be clear: This is how I understand what we have agreed. If that’s not true, please tell me, ”says White.
Limit contact with poisonous people. Whenever possible, avoid meeting alone with a coworker or supervisor whom you consider toxic. Having another coworker on hand can protect you from a vilified verbal attack if you fear it might, says White.
continuation
Do a reality check. If you think you may be stuck in a toxic work environment, find a friend who will hear your concerns. “Otherwise, you may think you’re crazy,” says White. Find someone to talk to who is not involved in the situation, e.g. B. a colleague in another department or preferably a non-employee.
Manage “up” to your manager. This is how Kerzner describes how he approaches your manager and discusses the problems that make your workday so miserable and unbearable. “Have a transparent conversation,” says Kerzner. “If you don’t do this, you are contributing to a toxic work environment. On the other hand, this dialogue could change the paradigm just enough for the organization to think about what to do to change. “
Live a balanced life outside of work. “If you find that you cannot change the workplace, you may be able to survive a toxic environment as you work on feeling better and more balanced outside of work,” says Kerzner. Allow time for your family, whether you are dining together every day, planning a group walk, or planning a night out. Keep in touch with friends even if it means checking in to Zoom. Get some exercise every day. And keep in touch with your spirituality, which can mean practicing your beliefs, meditating, or taking time to spend some time doing something that preoccupies you, whether listening to favorite music or fly fishing.
Or you can quit
When you reach a point where you just can’t tolerate a toxic environment anymore, the next logical step is to leave. “The choice is yours,” says White. “You may not like this choice, but you don’t have to stay.” If you stay in a toxic work environment that makes you sick, the idea lingers that you are a victim and powerless. White says, “And I think none of us are powerless.”
Before packing up those family photos and tidying up your desk, do the following:
continuation
Make a list of advantages and disadvantages. Weigh the pros and cons of quitting. Kerzner saw employees quit their jobs and then return in 6 months because “the grass on the other hand isn’t always greener. Make sure you don’t leave any remorse, ”he says.
Be ready to market yourself. “Before you go out the door, make sure your personal branding is up to date,” says Kerzner. “Taking stock of the work you have done and your performance over the past 5 years.” Make sure these achievements are included when you update your resume and LinkedIn profile.
continuation
Don’t go upset. Quitting spontaneously one day is a bad idea. Provide adequate notice to your employer so that you have time to plan your escape. Don’t expect to find the perfect new job right away, says White. “It’s rare to go from a negative job to a really good one without a space to pull yourself back together,” he says.
When you start interviewing for a new job, check to see if you can speak to not only HR and your potential manager, but also others who work or have worked for the company. “Try to find out,” says White, “whether the culture is a good fit or not.”
Comments are closed.