What makes a toxic work environment?

Your workplace is your second home. Even in a virtual work situation, where you are working from home or a café you are interacting with your second family. And just as issues at home affect you at work so does the work issues affect you at home. As such good and empathetic employers ensure positivity around you and that you go home cheerful and happy, at least most of the time. And in remote work when you close your laptop for the last time that evening.

However, much goes against the grain of a good working environment. Toxicity prevails in some office environments. A toxic workplace can be defined as one that is hostile, stressful and demoralising. It can have a significant impact on the employee productivity, job satisfaction and mental health.

It is mostly caused by one or two few individuals. And I am not talking about that pressure situation that springs up now and then when the boss is under pressure to meet the targets and says and does stuff that can be insulting.

This toxicity has permanency, at least until the individual spreading it remains in that environment. And it does not have to be physically present; I have seen an office, where the individual was another in another country and the region that reported to him had this toxic atmosphere, primarily as the emails that would be coming in and a couple of Skype calls a day had a terrible effect.

As I mentioned earlier, the workplace is where the people spend a significant amount of their time, often more than they spend at home, considering the late hours that have been prevalent over the last three decades, especially. So, if you are looking at that option, where the money and perks are good and do not really have an inside view of the work environment, here are a few indicators you can look at if you can find a way to get access or by asking the headhunters.

High turnover rate

A high turnover rate can be a sign of a toxic workplace. If employees are leaving the company at a rapid rate, it may indicate that there are problems with the workplace culture, management, or other issues that are making it difficult for the employees to stay. A toxic workplace can make the employees feel unappreciated, undervalued and unsupported.

Not always a sure shot sign as sometimes the company can be in a dying industry but then that is another reason you should not be stepping in.

Aloof management

If the managers are not providing employees with the necessary support, feedback and resources, it can make it difficult for the employees to do their jobs effectively. If the managers are not accessible, do not communicate effectively, or are not approachable, it can make it difficult for the employees to feel valued and supported.

Again there can be an aloof boss. That is not as much toxic. But when that aloofness results in the lack of productivity and the blame comes to the team, then it is toxic.

Lack of trust

A lack of trust is a significant issue in a toxic workplace. If the employees do not trust their coworkers, managers, or the company, it can lead to a significant decline in the morale and productivity. A lack of trust can also lead to a lack of collaboration, teamwork and open communication. When the employees feel they cannot trust the people they work with, it can be difficult for them to feel invested in their work and the success of the company.

I know someone who was a zonal; sales manager who had a boss that was running his own sideshow smuggling the same products that the company was importing and selling. Now that led to the local targets going unfulfilled, as the smuggled products were of better quality and sometimes cost less due to the duty evasion and old stocks. So, this zonal sales manager would get a hiding every month, whereas the person giving it was actually the reason for the local sales dropping.

Micromanagement

If the managers are constantly monitoring and controlling every aspect of their employees’ work, it can be incredibly demoralising. The micromanagement can make employees feel like they are not trusted or valued and it can lead to a lack of creativity and innovation. When the employees feel like they cannot make decisions or take risks, it can make it difficult for them to feel invested in their work.

A headhunter friend once told me that he had got a brief from the owner of a reasonably large company that he wanted a chief executive officer but one he could micromanage. He said they cannot trust anyone with their business, especially unionism in the factory getting out of hand.

It is when the board gets involved like that toxicity spreads. The habit of micromanaging means daily interaction on strategic issues and this can be hugely burdensome and just gets passed down I am afraid.

Bullying and harassment

If the employees are subject to bullying, harassment, or discrimination, it can have a significant impact on their mental health and wellbeing. Bullying and harassment can lead to a lack of confidence, anxiety and depression. I know this person who was the CEO and a very competent one. He had this attitude of friendliness towards the staff and something that did not go down well with the chairman who was quite a narcissist.

Eventually, the CEO left only because of the bullying nature of the chairman who had a couple of his people in the middle management whom he used against the CEO.

Lack of work-life balance

This was something that just did not exist formally when I began work even though I was lucky that it was encouraged from the management. But not all the organisations have this understanding and the amount of work heaped on an inadequately numbered workforce often leads to irritability in a few leaders. A clear harbinger of a toxic workplace.

Lack of recognition

Many office managers do not recognise the work that their staff do and in often trying circumstances and while that may not be toxic in itself but when criticism comes to the fore for all that goes wrong, toxicity breeds in the environment.

Lack of diversity and inclusion

While diversity and inclusion seems to be the buzzword of modern days, I have found this impacting organisations as far back as the 1990s. A woman class fellow of mine felt toxicity when she moved to an organisation that was almost all male. From taunts to women should be at home to looking down on her work, even achievements, it drove her to leave.

So yes, keep an ear out for what happens in an organisation that you may want to join and whether any of these indicators are prevalent there.

(The writer is a corporate consultant, coach and former CEO with over 35 years of experience in leadership, building brands and organisational strategy. He now advises on business strategy, marketing, human resource and media management)