3 Ways Remote Working Fights the Rising Toxic Workplace Culture
Letting employees work remotely can mitigate the adverse effects of toxic workplace culture. Freedom and flexibility promote job satisfaction and well-being.
Toxic workplace culture is on the rise. By now, you may have seen countless headlines about The Great Resignation. Unhappy workers are quitting their jobs in droves. In a recent Gallup report, 60% of workers reported being emotionally detached at work. The COVID-19 pandemic shocked the world into realizing how fragile life is. As a result, people have come to value flexible work arrangements and fulfilling careers.
By adopting a hybrid workplace culture, companies can get higher-quality work from their employees while keeping them happy with their roles. Many are even allowing people to work remotely altogether.
What Is Toxic Work Culture?
When a workplace lacks trust and respect, people dread going in to work. This leads to a downward spiral of poor performance. In addition, burnout is at a staggering all-time high. An Indeed study showed that 59% of American workers are experiencing burnout. As more suffer from the effects of toxic work culture, it is more important than ever for companies to address this issue. But how?
It is not as complicated as you think. Giving your employees the flexibility to work remotely can go a long way in fostering a healthy work environment. If a 100% remote setup is not possible, a hybrid workplace culture can still mitigate the effects of a toxic workplace.
Remote Work Alleviates Toxicity
Nowadays, people want to work when they want and where they want. Remote teams are familiar with the benefits of working from home:
- Freedom and flexibility
- Improved work-life balance
- Less stress
Freedom and Flexibility
The freedom and flexibility of remote work promote better mental health for all. Gone are the days of anxiously rushing into the office at 8 a.m. sharp. People can take breaks without feeling guilty about it and still finish projects on time. Workers have the luxury of switching up their environment, which keeps productivity levels up throughout the day.
Improved Work-Life Balance
Parents often find it tough to juggle the demands of work and family. Making time for your kids is difficult if you spend eight hours each day in an office and hours commuting. It’s no wonder millions are requesting to work from home.
Office commutes eat up a lot of time that could be better spent in other ways:
- An extra hour of sleep can boost productivity and focus.
- More time for “lunch” allows people to catch up with friends and loved ones.
- Workers can run errands during flexible breaks and avoid busy times.
- Time saved from commutes can be valuable for getting ahead on tasks.
Less Stress
Working in a traditional office comes with a lot of unnecessary stress. Stress from enduring brutal traffic to get to the cubicle on time. Headaches from dealing with other workers’ negativity if they are having a bad day. Pressure from not having enough time to enjoy lunch. The list goes on! But you can avoid all these stressors by remote working… even for some of the time.
Workers perform their best when they feel calm and inspired. Furthermore, it is no secret that workers produce better results with breathing room. Nobody wants a boss hovering over their shoulders at all times!
Toxic Workplace Culture Hurts Everyone’s Bottom Line
Toxic work culture is a threat to everyone’s well-being. It even poses a risk to your business as a whole. Burnt-out employees are more likely to leave their jobs and find ones where they feel valued.
As a manager, you can create a healthy, productive environment via remote working or by embracing a hybrid workplace culture. Set a good example for how you want your team to operate. Have the necessary systems in place to manage your workers (without micromanaging them!). Remember that people look up to their leaders. The first step to combatting toxic workplace culture starts with you.
