In recent years, there has been a shift in employee expectations, and toxic workplaces were left in the dust of the “great resignation”.
Employees left work environments that were not conducive to personal or career growth or demonstrated disrespectful or unethical behavior. Many employees refused to work in toxic environments and left their jobs in record numbers to pursue a better work-life balance.
If you think your workplace might be contributing to a toxic culture, look out for the following indicators that something is off. Workplace toxicity can often be subtle, and the tactics employed by those advocating for this kind of environment can be tricky to pinpoint.
Below are five subtle signs that you are working in a toxic environment:
1. Corporate Gaslighting
Corporate gaslighting is a form of manipulation where individuals within a workplace hierarchy twist or distort reality to make their target question their sanity or perception of reality.
This is a form of psychological warfare and it can be recognized through individuals intentionally downplaying emotions, denying events, and creating a narrative where the victim is portrayed as being irrational or at fault.
2. Fear Culture
Toxic work environments often thrive in companies with fear-based cultures.
Employees working in fear-based cultures tend to spend an inordinate amount of time and mental energy on finding reasons to explain their actions in an attempt to shift blame.
Not only is that a complete waste of an employee’s time, but it also indicates that the workplace is not psychologically safe and it does not maximize output without burnout.
3. Hostile Leadership
A hostile workplace is a clear indication of a toxic work environment.
It creates a psychologically unsafe and damaging workplace. Once a working environment degrades to the point of becoming hostile, the dynamic shifts – reducing productivity and increasing stress.
What makes a workplace hostile?
Unwelcome comments, leering in a suggestive manner, and racially derogatory phrases all contribute to workplace harassment, which creates a hostile workplace.
This does not happen with management alone – any employee is capable of creating a hostile work environment and immediate action is required to rectify this type of behavior.
4. Low Morale
When there is an apparent breakdown in trust, employee morale takes a nosedive.
Low employee morale or company spirit is a significant indicator of a toxic work environment. While it can occasionally be unintentional, companies should do better once they know better.
Consistently low morale suggests that the workplace is unable or unwilling to foster positive relationships, fails to recognize achievements, and does not afford employees opportunities for growth and promotion.
5. Micromanagement
Micromanaging leadership is toxic because it undermines employee confidence, destroys trust, and stifles initiative.
It fosters an environment of burnout and depression by creating the impression that employees are not trusted to do their jobs competently. This blatant lack of trust often leads to disengagement and resentment.
When employees are not micromanaged, autonomy develops when staff gets on with their duties and responsibilities and the business functions well.
In Conclusion
Toxic work environments are sadly more common than most people realize, but it is not all doom and gloom.
There are productive steps business owners and managers can take to reduce and prevent toxicity in the workplace, but the first step is admitting it exists.
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