Your toxic workplace checklist - 9 signs you’re in a toxic workplace
Your toxic workplace checklist
9 signs you’re in a toxic workplace
Working in a toxic environment can take the joy out of your day-to-day work, make it really hard to be productive or perform, and can even affect your health. Working in a toxic workplace can shift your sense of what’s normal and acceptable and directly impact your personal life and relationships. I know from personal experience how much pressure this can put on individuals and families.
Clients often ask me for advice on how to manage in a toxic workplace so here is my toxic workplace checklist. This checklist includes some of the top toxic workplace behaviours and will help you assess the health of your workplace.
1. Your job is affecting your health
Anxiety, depression, panic attacks, and high levels of stress can all result from being in a toxic workplace. Physical issues like headaches, trouble sleeping, gastro-intestinal problems, skin and hair disorders and other health problems can also be a result of working in a toxic environment. Some people experience the “Sunday night blues” on a weekly basis as they dread returning to work on Monday.
If you are experiencing any of these types of problems it’s important to see your doctor and follow their advice. It can also be helpful to talk to your doctor about any issues at work which you feel are impacting your health.
2. You’re being overworked
Does your workload feel overwhelming and unachievable? Is it impossible to get anyone to help you or cover for you while you take time off? Have other people been made redundant and now you are responsible for their workload as well as your own? Are you expected to be constantly on call? Or perhaps working from home means you’re expected to be responding to emails in the evening and on weekends.
Working in this type of environment is not sustainable in the long run and often impacts people’s health, personal life, and relationships. It’s important to raise it with your boss and make changes. If this is simply not doable, it could be a sign that it’s time to make an exit plan.
3. Flexible working is frowned upon
The workplace has changed a lot in the last few years with flexible working becoming much more common in many workplaces. Flexible working means workers are often able to better balance their work and personal lives. Many people agree that flexible working means they actually work harder and are more productive. Plus they enjoy the benefits of less commuting, being able to drop their kids at school, attend personal appointments and doing more exercise. All of these things improve our quality of life both in and outside of the workplace.
While there are many jobs that require workers to be physically present due to the nature of the work, many businesses have realised that a one-size-fits-all approach no longer works. Workers want flexibility and hybrid working options. If your boss is inflexible when it comes to flexible and hybrid working, this is a red flag.
4. Bullying and other bad workplace behaviour is ignored
If a colleague, boss, or someone else in the workplace is bullying you, it is a sure sign they are a toxic co-worker. Bullying is never acceptable and if it is happening in your workplace it should be reported to the leadership and appropriately dealt with.
It is the responsibility of the leadership to set the tone and culture of the business. If leaders do not set and reinforce acceptable behaviour in the workplace, or eliminate bullying this is an immediate red flag for a toxic workplace.
5. There’s a culture of fear in the workplace
When people feel afraid to speak up in the workplace for fear of retribution, ridicule or being fired, it is a sign of workplace toxicity. I was once in a role where my boss asked me for my opinion. I gave him a respectful and honest response however he took offence to my comments. I told him that other people in the workplace held the same opinion. The next day I was told I was about to be fired for lying because no one else backed up what I had said. I was mortified and could not contain my emotions (rage turned to tears!) and my boss decided I wasn’t lying after all. He told me to go home and take the next day off, saying we could just forget about the whole conversation.
This experience had a deep and devastating impact on me. I lost all trust in my boss, and with my colleagues. This impacted me in the workplace and at home. I never again shared my honest feedback with my colleagues or my boss, which impacted my ability to perform well in the role. I chose to leave that company as did others.
When there is a culture of fear in the workplace, everyone’s performance suffers. When people are too afraid to share information, ideas, feedback and suggestions this is a common sign of a toxic workplace.
6. Absenteeism and staff turnover are high
Absenteeism occurs when people don’t come to work when they are expected to. This doesn’t include planned leave and is more than the occasional “sickie” (a term my Aussie friends introduced me to!). Repeated sick days, unplanned leave, mental health leave, and just not showing up, are all examples of absenteeism. If you can relate to this, or you notice co-workers pulling no-shows or ‘clock watching’, this can be a sign that something is wrong in the workplace.
7. There is favouritism in the workplace
Research undertaken by Employsure in 2018 found that almost half of working Australians believe favouritism is present in their workplace. In my own career I have known bosses who have given favourable treatment, including inflated performance ratings/bonuses, to people in the workplace because of a personal friendship.
Where there’s favouritism in the workplace there cannot be equity among all employees. And this really impacts employee motivation, job satisfaction and performance. It’s a big red flag for a toxic workplace.
8. Workplace gossip is commonplace
Everyone has a right to express their opinions and thoughts in the workplace in a productive way, including you. In healthy teams, ideas can be discussed openly, different views can be put forward and challenged respectfully, and everyone is heard. I’ve worked in some fantastic teams where not only was the professional discussion great, but the “banter” and conversation between team members was equally as enjoyable and respectful.
But there’s a fine line between fun inclusive banter, and downright unhelpful or mean gossip. Office gossip can cause conflict, lower morale and damage personal and professional reputations. When gossip is the norm, it’s a sign of a toxic workplace.
9. You’re being gaslighted
You have always been a strong performer, but all of a sudden your boss has decided to continually point out all your errors and mistakes and seems to not notice any of the good work you are doing. This is an example of “gaslighting”. Gaslighting refers to behaviours that some people use to manipulate another person into doubting their abilities and eroding their confidence and performance. It is a particularly toxic behaviour. Sometimes leaders use this method in hopes that you will quit, saving them time and hassle in pursuing other HR-approved paths.
Keep an eye out for the following types of behaviours. If any of them are happening it could mean you are in a toxic workplace:
Being excluded from meetings you would normally expect to be in
Not being given all the information you need to do your job
Having the goals posts or expectations changed without warning
Nit-picking and finding small issues with otherwise sound work
Having negative comments made about you in front of others
Reasonable or genuine errors or delays being blown out of proportion
Sarcasm, sniping, or negative comments being made about you
So there you have it! That is my toxic workplace checklist covering the toxic workplace behaviours I look for when determining if a workplace is toxic. If you feel like you’re in a toxic workplace and would like some assistance to move into another job or company, please book a free chat with me so we can discuss your situation and options.