9 Subtle Signs of a Toxic Workplace
Photo by Shayna "Bepple" Take on Unsplash
Have you ever heard of boiling frog syndrome? The saying goes: if you put a frog into boiling water, it will jump out. But if you put it into cold water and slowly turn the temperature up, it will sit in the pot and boil. This syndrome can be used to describe toxic workplaces perfectly. You’re less likely to take a job or stay at one that is clearly toxic straight off the bat, but if toxicity is gradually increased over time you’re less likely to notice or mind.
The signs can be subtle and you may not realize how detrimental your workplace is for you - your mental health, physical health, and relationships. We’re here to discuss the effects of toxic workplaces and some of the subtle signs you can look for.
The Effects of a Toxic Workplace
As an employee exposed to toxic workplace culture, here are a few things that may be a consequence of your work environment:
Depression
Anxiety
Burnout & Fatigue
Hating a job you used to love
Chronic stress
Relying on unhealthy coping mechanisms (smoking, drinking, binge eating, substance abuse etc.)
Strained relationships
Getting sick more often
9 Subtle Signs of a Toxic Workplace
Lack of Consistency
You might find that you can’t rely on consistency for many aspects of your work. Expectations change or processes are different depending on who you report to. It could be that a simple mistake was laughed off the other week but this week it’s a huge deal. It might all come down to how your manager is feeling that day.
Lack of Opportunities
There’s no growth, or perhaps things like promotions and raises are offered to those who are favorites and go out of their way to schmooze. It could just be that it’s something that was never discussed and your growth in your company has stagnated. I remember an old co-worker at a previous job of mine who was expected to work an obscene amount of overtime for a chance at a higher position.
Rotating Teams
Have you ever looked at the people in your department and realized that last year there were a completely different bunch of people? Talk about turnover - yikes. This can make it really hard to form strong bonds with your co-workers when they’re constantly leaving.
Shaming Leave
Sick leave? Don’t need it. Annual leave? Never heard of it. Family leave? Work’s more important. Maternity leave? I guess, but only for a few weeks. This may be the attitude towards the leave - leave that you are entitled to and is part of your compensation package. They might let you take it, but not without passive-aggressive comments. They also might expect you to still check communications whilst on leave - those are not healthy boundaries.
No Appreciation
We all know we get paid to work, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be shown appreciation and gratitude. Your efforts should not be taken for granted and praise should not be unheard of. If ‘thank you’ and ‘I appreciate it’ are phrases that are foreign at work then you may be in a toxic environment.
Over and Above is a Norm
Some companies have their people doing the most for the bare minimum in exchange. If overworking yourself and taking on more work than you can handle is the norm in your workplace… run. Chronic stress and burnout have become almost normalized and that should not be the case!
Fear of Punishment
We all mess up - we’re human. It’s normal. But if making small mistakes at work has you anxious and fearful of the consequences then it’s a bad sign. The consequences may not be getting fired, but they may be more of a mentally taxing punishment. Nitpicking your work, micro-management, passive-aggressive comments, and humiliation are all types of punishments that should not be acceptable in a workplace (or anywhere).
Social Cliques
If your workplace’s social dynamic is giving American high school cafeteria vibes then you may be in trouble. If social cliques are a norm and there are groups that are hard to break into, it’s likely that your workplace is highly socially divided and there’s a lack of connection or real camaraderie. As adults, we should strive to have the emotional capacity to at least talk to people who we don’t have common interests with.
Management is Not Part of the Team
If team building involves your team doing the activity and management sitting on the sidelines observing, then your managers are not part of your team. That’s a huge red flag. Management should not feel above you or feel like they don’t need team building - your team should have a manager who is front and center leading the teambuilding exercises and actively participating.
3 Ways to Cope with a Toxic Workplace
Use Your Leave
Even if they shame you for it, you are entitled to your leave. Your mental health should always come first and taking breaks from a stressful work environment will be a key aspect of maintaining your sanity.
Detach Yourself from Work
Whether it’s just the weekend or a week of leave or you’re sick, you should not have to stress or think about work. This is something I struggled with for a long time and I wondered why I didn’t come back to work feeling refreshed. Turn off your communication channels: no checking emails or messages. If it’s an emergency, they can call you. If you do not mentally detach yourself from work, you will never truly feel like you are away from it.
Plan your Exit
Unfortunately, there’s only so much you can do if your work environment is toxic and people don’t want to change it. In a very difficult job market, it’s important to start job searching asap. Don’t tell anyone you are planning on leaving and plan interviews during your leave. Even if you really don’t want to leave, it’s important to put your mental health, growth and future first.
Conclusion: Feeling the Heat?
So, does any of this remind you of your workplace? It’s important to be conscious of these things, they may start small and over time become glaringly obvious. Working in a toxic workplace can be really taxing, but so can finding another job. As someone who has been in a toxic work culture, I can tell you that the grass is in fact greener on the other side.
