What Are The Signs of a Toxic Workplace?

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What Are The Signs of a Toxic Workplace?

5 Telltale Signs of a Toxic Workplace

Charlie Sull- co-founder of CultureX, classified workplace toxicity as an epidemic, stating that it has profound implications on employees’ health and workplace wellbeing.

From feelings of insecurity to a surge in stress levels or even physical ailments, toxic workplaces can have devastating consequences if proper prevention and management techniques are not used. It is crucial that employers prioritise their staff’s morale, comfort and safety to ensure everyone can safely reach their potential and contribute positively to the workplace.

If you’re a business owner, it’s important to recognise these signs of an unhealthy work environment before it spirals out of control. Here are some surefire indicators that your workplace could use some culture cleansing:

Blurred Work Boundaries

Toxic cultures are insidious in the way they can seemingly normalise- and even glorify- behaviour that promotes unhealthy boundaries. Employees may be expected to stay late at work, give part of their salary away or remain silent while being mistreated-all to “fit in.” This can cultivate a sense of self-doubt as the worker begins to second-guess their own decisions and beliefs. In fact, research shows 93% of Australian employees experiencing burnout credited it to unrealistic job expectations, toxic cultures and unclear boundaries. Boundaries, on the other hand, provide structure and organisation, allowing team members to work effectively.

Therefore, enterprises must encourage workers to set boundaries in the workplace. Managers can lead by example and take the following initiatives:

• Set clear expectations for yourself and others. Let people know what you are and are not willing to do, and make sure they understand these expectations.

• Be aware of your time commitments both inside and outside the office. As a result, you can prioritise tasks as needed.

• Respect other people’s opinions and views even if they differ from yours.

• Create boundaries for yourself and your team. Hold seminars about acceptable behaviour in the workplace.

• Establish open communication channels so that everyone is heard and respected.

• Take regular breaks to restore mental energy and refocus on tasks.

• Practice self-care by taking time for yourself each day, no matter how busy you may be.

Trust Issues Amongst Employees

The majority of workers do not trust their leaders. In a toxic work environment, it’s easy to sense distrust amongst colleagues; conversations seem forced and you can see the unease in each individual’s body language. Everyone feels they need to be careful about what they say and whom they are relying on- as if the slightest misstep could lead to career destruction.

Working in such a negative atmosphere is draining, with energy being put towards staying guarded instead of focusing on what matters most: getting the job done.

Trust in the workplace is both an elusive ideal and an absolute necessity. Without this confidence, a workplace culture becomes toxic with employees disconnected from each other and leadership. This erodes morale and productivity, leaving the workers feeling powerless and unmotivated to excel.

Even if management does all the right things, reliability must be earned by those leading the team. Therefore, management should strive to create an atmosphere where team members feel listened to, valued and respected – a space where open creativity is encouraged and criticisms are heard without judgment. Once this atmosphere is established, trust will start to bloom, providing a bedrock of integrity that allows everyone to thrive.

Some ways employers can create trust in the workplace include:

Creating a set of expectations, including a clear communication strategy and purpose-driven goals.
Establishing open feedback loops so that everyone is aware of their roles and how they contribute to the team’s success.
Providing opportunities for employees to take on more responsibility.
Instilling feelings of trust and autonomy in the team’s decision-making to ensure all members feel valued.
Making sure that employees feel supported, seen, and respected.
Leading by example and being transparent with colleagues.

Unhealthy Interpersonal Relationships

Working in a team setting can be a great way to foster strong interpersonal relationships. In a work environment, it’s important for employees to understand each other and work together effectively. By having strong interpersonal relationships between coworkers, work tasks can be completed more efficiently and any problems encountered can be likely solved without a hitch.

However, unhealthy interpersonal relationships can have a negative impact on the workplace. Therefore, it’s important to create an environment where employees feel comfortable and respected to be productive. Any tension between two or more people can lead to avoidance of certain topics and an overall decrease in communication. This can significantly reduce productivity levels.

Recent studies in the United States and Ireland have revealed a startling correlation between mental health issues and interactions between individuals. When social interaction is characterised by negativity, the risk of falling into depression or anxiety or experiencing suicidal ideation is increased. On the other hand, positive social engagements provide protection against such issues. These findings suggest that even seemingly small issues within personal relationships can have major impacts on psychological wellbeing. This is reaffirmed by the Wellbeing Lab from Michelle McQuaid’s 2022 report, which states 87.9% of workplace anguish was caused by harassment at work.

Considering this, it is critical for employers to provide resources to tackle these problems. Managers can:

Create a plan for conflict-resolution
Implement strict policies to prevent bullying and harassment
Introduce monthly team-building activities

Gaslighting As A Norm

Gaslighting at work is a form of manipulation that can have serious consequences on one’s career. It occurs when a manager or coworker seeks to control an individual by using lies, deception, and distortion of facts to make them doubt reality and question their own judgment.

Consequently, gaslighting leads to feelings of helplessness and confusion. This behaviour can damage not only one’s professional reputation but also their mental health, as it leaves victims feeling uncertain and powerless. Thus, employers need to prioritise creating an environment where such culture is not tolerated.

Here are three ways to address and prevent gaslighting in the workplace:

Establish Clear Policies & Procedures

Establish clear policies and procedures that outline unacceptable behaviour, such as gaslighting, and ensure everyone is aware of them. This will help employees recognise when they are being targeted with manipulative tactics, so they can take action immediately.

Provide Education

Make sure all staff members understand the dangers of gaslighting and how it works by providing training on the topic. Additionally, managers can provide resources for victims so they know their rights. Enterprises must also create policies that inform the victim about measures they can take to report incidents without fear of retaliation.

Implement an Open-Door Policy

Encourage open communication between managers, colleagues and subordinates to create a safe space where people can speak up without fear of retribution. Ensure employees know that their opinions are valued and that any concerns will be taken seriously.

Physical Symptoms Of Work Stress Are Evident

Work stress can manifest itself in the form of physical ailments. Some signs may include:

Muscle aches and pains
Digestive problems
Chronic fatigue
Headaches
Difficulty sleeping

Stress can be a combination of these symptoms that affects different people in unique ways. If your team experiences prolonged levels of stress, it is important to recognise these signs and take steps to manage them.

Employees may also suffer from mental and emotional duress under pressure. These can range from feeling anxious, overwhelmed or easily frustrated to having difficulty concentrating or making decisions.

It is not uncommon for employees to feel like they are in a “fog” when under high-stress levels, as their ability to think clearly is impacted by the situation at hand. Taking regular breaks throughout the day and engaging in activities, such as yoga or mindfulness, can help improve mental clarity and reduce stress. Therefore, organisations must introduce relaxation programs to help teams manage workplace stress conveniently. Introducing ergonomic workspaces can also provide relief to many of these physical symptoms.

When an individual’s stress levels become unmanageable, it can have a direct correlation with their job performance. This is because when someone is in a constantly heightened state of stress, they may become more prone to making mistakes, have difficulty communicating effectively and struggle with problem-solving. It is crucial for business owners and managers to be aware of the signs, so appropriate measures can be taken to ensure their employees are working in a healthy environment.

Wrapping Up

All in all, a toxic workplace can have negative repercussions not only on employees’ professional development but their mental and physical health as well.

Signs of a toxic workplace include blurred work boundaries, employee trust issues, unhealthy interpersonal relationships, stress and feeling gaslighted as a norm.

Therefore, managers need to address the aforementioned problems within their teams to retain their best employees and through corporate wellness courses, build an improved working atmosphere for everyone in the organisation.

Toxic workplaces are a common reality for nearly one in nine workers in the US, according to the MIT Sloan School of Management. Charlie Sull- co-founder of CultureX, classified workplace toxicity as an epidemic, stating that it has profound implications on employees’ health and workplace wellbeing.

From feelings of insecurity to a surge in stress levels or even physical ailments, toxic workplaces can have devastating consequences if proper prevention and management techniques are not used. It is crucial that employers prioritize their staff’s morale, comfort and safety to ensure everyone can safely reach their potential and contribute positively to the workplace.

Blurred Work Boundaries

Toxic cultures are insidious in the way they can seemingly normalize- and even glorify- behaviour that promotes unhealthy boundaries. Employees may be expected to stay late at work, give part of their salary away or remain silent while being mistreated-all to “fit in.” This can cultivate a sense of self-doubt as the worker begins to second-guess their own decisions and beliefs. In fact, research shows that 79% of employees experience stress due to toxic cultures and unclear boundaries. Boundaries, on the other hand, provide structure and organisation, allowing team members to work effectively.