What To Do If You Find Yourself In A Toxic Work Environment

Is It Time To Leave?

If you see a team that’s happy, engaged, productive, and smashing their targets, there’s one very likely reason for that: they work in a supportive and healthy environment.

On the other hand, if you witness a disengaged team that is unmotivated, making constant mistakes, and leaving in droves, the opposite is probably true.

Millions of employees in the US deal with abusive managers at work and find themselves in toxic work environments. Workplaces like these lay the foundations for bullying, leading to high employee turnover and an increased risk of burnout.

The American workplace can be “grueling, stressful and surprisingly hostile,” a study of 3,066 US workers previously found. Nearly one in five workers face a “threatening environment” at work — and just over half said they face “unpleasant and potentially hazardous” conditions. And a 2020 study by the Workplace Bullying Institute found nearly 20% experienced workplace bullying, and 19% witnessed it.

Conditions like these make it hard for people to thrive. Instead, they feel downhearted, fear failure, and struggle to build up any self-confidence to shine.

So what are the signs of a toxic work environment?

Toxic work environments may not always be overt and obvious at first. The signs can be insidious, creeping up on you little by little until you realize you’re miserable.

Some of the most common signs include a lopsided work-life imbalance, a fear of communicating about what you really need (or want), and inconsistent leadership. A hyper-focus on statistics and output, rather than wellbeing, is another — as is a manager criticizing every decision you make without giving constructive feedback. All of these contribute to frustration, unhappiness, and a lack of growth.

In some cases — while less common — the signs of a toxic environment are extremely clear. You may be intimidated by a colleague or supervisor, punished and criticized undeservedly, or frequently shamed publicly by your manager. You might hear offensive jokes at your expense, have your work undermined or sabotaged, or be denied leave or training opportunities. There may also be discrimination happening — perhaps you’ve missed out on a promotion due to your gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or physical ability.

Whatever signs you notice, it’s likely there’ll be one feeling you experience day in, day out: fear. Fear of failure. Fear of losing your job. Fear of making a mistake. Even fear of your supervisor — no matter what level you are.

And the worrying issue is, with much of the workforce now working from home, these signs can become even more extreme — but less noticed by others.

So, what can you do about it?

If you read the signs above and can relate, you have two options: 1) try to transform your experience in the workplace, or 2) decide to leave. The route you take is unique to the individual and will depend on how bad the situation is and how it’s impacting your mental health.

Choosing to transform your experience and instigate real change in your workplace can start with simple actions, such as seeking out positive co-workers who are likely to feel the same way as you or constructively confronting the colleagues who create that hostile environment. You can also document what is happening and set up a meeting with HR. This may be a lengthy and uncomfortable process, but it could be pivotal in changing the culture at your work. Make sure you focus on facts: what actions have been taken that have harmed employees’ wellbeing and productivity? Why is there a level of fear in the air, and what is causing it? Are there people who agree and are open to joining you in your meeting with HR? Remember: there is power in numbers.

Alternatively, some people may feel that trying to change and confront a toxic work culture isn’t an option — and decide to leave instead. Leaving a job that isn’t working for you — professionally or personally — is never an easy decision, but it may be the best choice for your wellbeing.

Don’t underestimate the physical and mental costs of staying in a toxic environment for years on end. And, if you do decide to leave, take note of the behaviors and values that contributed to the culture in your old workplace and ask questions of new potential supervisors and colleagues to clarify how their values differ. You want to be sure a healthy culture and environment are important to them so you can avoid finding yourself in a similar environment.

Bullying must never be tolerated at work, and a toxic work environment is very stressful. If you are in a leadership role, endeavor to be the leader that people need most: one who works hard to create a positive, healthy workplace culture where employees thrive and enjoy working.