Before we discuss the signs, It is equally important to know what a toxic workplace is. A toxic workplace is a place where employees feel frustrated, lack respect for each other, and are micro-managed. They feel that management does not trust them, and that office politics override work ethics. Employees may also experience mistreatment, bullying, and feel taken advantage of, ultimately feeling trapped at work. In short, the majority of employees do not want to work in such an environment, but often feel they have no choice because they need money or experience.
Sometimes, people do not even know that they are at a toxic workplace until much later. In other cases, they mistake a toxic boss for a toxic workplace. But, a toxic work environment is a result of the work behaviours of more than a few individuals, It is more of a culture.
These are the signs of a toxic work culture:
- Long working hours are glorified
The company promotes the hustle culture and top management sets examples by glorifying working long hours, being available on their day off or even on a vacation. If management itself does that, they expect the employees to follow suit. It has more cons than pros. Working tirelessly leads to burnout and even health issues, which in turn affects productivity.
Eventually, people quit their jobs. In such cases, companies waste more money and time compared to a workplace that prioritizes work-life balance, as they hire people more frequently.
2. You are terrified to voice your opinion
You think your opinion will not matter if you speak up. From past experiences, you know that management disregards your ideas as “not good enough” and belittles you. As a result, you think it’s better to remain silent even when your manager asks you to share your ideas.
3. Mistakes are treated as failures
Mistakes happen, there is no denying it. But finger-pointing or blaming is utterly unnecessary. If you make a mistake and your boss chooses to blame you in a team meeting, It is a red flag. However, it is their responsibility to correct you, not in front of everyone. On the contrary, it is a sign of a healthy work environment when companies consider mistakes as lessons and encourage everyone to learn from mistakes.
4. Management believes in micro-management
Micro-managing destroys room for creativity, which is an essential component of great ideas. A study shows that people perform poorly when they know that someone is breathing down on their neck. Employees feel undervalued and eventually show no interest in the work at hand as they expect someone will correct them anyway.
5. You feel stuck
You know you are at a bad place, but you think you cannot get out just yet. The long process of job search and interviews is exhausting and you are not ready to go through it.
6. Company does not provide opportunities for professional and personal growth
Ideally, Companies should be interested in their employees’ professional and personal growth. As workers skill up, they bring more value to their jobs. On the personal front, employees do a better job if they are happy. But, certain companies focus only on day-to-day business rather than long-term benefits.
So true