Workplace Toxicity
Imagine arriving to work each day, only to spend several hours in an environment that causes psychological turmoil. Now, picture experiencing feelings you can’t quite articulate, but knowing your overall well-being is suffering. A toxic workplace can significantly impact your mental health and productivity.
I’ve encountered toxic workplaces throughout my career, and it wasn’t until recently that I took the time to research the effects of such environments. There were times I knew something was wrong, but I lacked the words to describe my experiences accurately. I often felt delusional, ashamed, confused or fearful about my job.
Recognizing these feelings and understanding their source is the first step in addressing the impact of a toxic workplace. It’s essential to prioritize your mental health and seek supportive people in these environments that foster a safe space for growth and well-being. To protect ourselves from emotional stress and burn out, its important to identify when its time to move on.
Leaving a toxic workplace can be a difficult decision, but recognizing the signs and protecting yourself should be a priority. Safeguarding your well-being and finding a healthier work environment can open new opportunities that align with your professional goals and personal values.
Let’s take a closer look into identifying, protecting yourself, and knowing when to move on.
Identify
A hostile environment with constant negativity. Lack of support from leadership, undue criticism and negative attitudes from colleagues or subordinates.
Organization has a high turnover with staff and leadership teams.
Poor communication with a clear lack of respect which leads to confusion or conflict.
Unreasonable workload that is unrealistic and excessive.
Feeling unappreciated, unnoticed or taken for granted. No recognition or praise.
Protect
Establish clear and firm boundaries with work -life balance. Enjoy your personal life and use that time to recharge.
Cultivate positive relationships with colleagues. Form a support group with those who share your experience.
Make sure self-care is a priority! Focus on your overall well-being and spending time with loved ones.
Document all issues and keep a private log of incidents. This will help if you need to escalate or seek legal advice.
Communicate your concerns to leadership and seek guidance on improving the work environment.
Move On
If work is impacting your mental or physical health. Chronic stress and anxiety leads to illness.
There are no signs of change and no improvement over time. I would gage about 3-6months.
Professional development is hindered. Little to no growth or progression in this role.
Wake up with anxiety as you head to work and are mentally fatigued when you get off. Your quality of life is low.
Recognize that these experiences are often beyond our control and typically require a significant internal culture shift within the companies. Even when we show up with the best intentions, work ethic, and professionalism, a toxic workplace can still affect us. It’s important not to feel shame or blame ourselves. Instead, we should learn and grow from these experiences, using the tools we gain to improve both professionally and personally. Making the decision to leave a toxic environment can be especially difficult when we have bills to pay, but prioritizing self-care and self-love is necessary for our well-being.
