It’s not unusual to dread Mondays now and then, or to fantasize once in a while about using a “sick” day to stay home under the covers. Every job has its good days and bad days; the hope, of course, is that the majority are good.
But working in a toxic environment is more than just a job you don’t really like—it’s the feeling that you can never catch a break or trust the people you work with, and is often characterized by low morale, internal competition, constant stress, and even bullying or abuse.
The worst part is that a toxic work environment will usually follow you home, and can damage not just your home life and personal relationships, but also your health. Like a toxic relationship, it’s important that you learn their warning signs, and know what to do if you find yourself in one.
Signs of a Toxic Work Environment
Below are 5 signs you may be in a toxic work environment.
1. Chronic Burnout
Burnout isn’t always a sign of a toxic workplace—sometimes it’s your own habits or mindsets about work that lead to the problem.
However, it is still a symptom often started or worsened by toxic workplaces, and one that is recognized as a legitimate medical diagnosis by the World Health Organization.
Do you or your colleagues frequently feel exhausted or sick? Toxic work environments lead to stress, fatigue, and burnout, all factors that can compromise your immune system. So yes, your toxic job can actually make you physically ill.
Here are some signs that you and others may be suffering from burnout:
- You feel overworked and handle the responsibilities of several people.
- You don’t see any rewards or positive outcomes for your hard work.
- You’re made to feel that if you decline a request or set a boundary, your job will be threatened.
- You have frequent trouble sleeping because you’re stressed about work.
- You feel like you’re always “on,” even away from the office and outside work hours.
2. Poor Communication
Unless you work completely by yourself and never have to engage with anyone, you’ll find that good communication is one of the most important aspects of a successful workplace.
Without effective communication, it will be pretty hard to get anything done, much less build camaraderie. Poor communication can lead to confusion, wasted time and resources, and negative feelings between team members.
Here are several signs of poor communication that can lead to a toxic workplace:
- Lack of clarity regarding tasks and projects
- Team members all seem to get different messages on the same subject
- Poor listening skills
- Frequent “after-hours” communication
- Lack of constructive feedback or due praise
- No explanation for major changes or decisions
3. Bad Leadership
Not all toxic workplaces are a reflection of your boss or superior—all it really takes is one bad apple to make an environment miserable for everyone, and that bad apple could come from any level.
But, things do get significantly worse when toxic management is the problem. It’s here where toxicity can seep into the foundations of the organization, ensuring that bad habits and behaviors are passed on throughout the ranks.
Plus, having a boss or direct superior who’s the source of toxicity often creates maximum stress, since that’s usually the person you must report to, and who can have the greatest influence over your work experience.
Here are some possible indicators of bad leadership:
- They’re quick to pass the blame to others when things go wrong, but take all the credit when things go right.
- They’re upset when you don’t meet their impossibly high standards.
- They use condescending, disrespectful, or downright abusive language.
- They’ll contact you at all hours of the day and expect you to respond immediately.
- They only reward “yes men,” or people who agree with or praise them.
- You feel like your job security depends on their mood on any given day.
- Decisions (especially rewards) are not merit-based, or seem illogical.
4. High Turnover
If you see a pattern of others jumping ship, that’s probably a sign of trouble within the organization.
Leaving a job is rarely an easy decision. It’s a big change, and it’s not one most people take lightly, so if you see a mass exodus, or if you’ve seen a position filled by several different people over just a few years, that’s a pretty good sign that the work environment is toxic.
Likewise, if you see that firings or layoffs are frequent, that’s another possible sign of bad leadership, or that employees are viewed as easily dispensable.
There’s probably high turnover in your organization if you’ve seen:
- Many employees leave after no more than a year or so.
- Employees are frequently fired or laid off.
5. Office Gossip
If you witness (or contribute) to office gossip, you may be involved in a toxic work environment. Now, in virtually all offices you’ll find a little harmless chatter—it’s human nature, and often how people establish bonds and a sense of community.
However, if you find your workplace is an environment where practically everyone has to watch their backs and you find it hard to trust more than a few people, it could be a sign of a toxic environment. And as you may have noticed, it makes it pretty hard to do your job effectively.
In addition, “clique” culture can also be a sign of a harmful or counterproductive work environment, It’s good to have camaraderie between coworkers, but not when others are actively excluded. Do you really want to work in a place that feels like an 8th grade girls’ bathroom?
(That said, “mean girls” might be a popular trope, but don’t forget that men are just as capable of fostering a clique-y or gossipy environment.)
Here are some signs of a workplace overrun with gossip and cliques:
- Gossip and rumors are rampant
- Everyone seems to be out for themselves
- You can’t trust more than one or two people
- Frequent whispering or chatting (not work-related) on messaging platforms
How Do You Get Out of a Toxic Work Environment?
If you believe you’re working in a toxic environment, you don’t have to accept the status quo. Here are 4 things you can do to address the situation.
Set boundaries.
If there’s still hope that you can make a positive change, at least in matters that concern you, try to set boundaries.
Your workplace may indeed be toxic, but it can also be the case that no one has ever spoken up about some of the toxic practices.
For example, if your superiors or coworkers have a habit of emailing you after work hours or on weekends (and expect a prompt reply), politely tell them that you’d like work hours to be respected, or that you’ll respond promptly the next work day.
If possible, talk directly with the source.
Returning to the example above, it’s possible that the person who’s bombarding you with messages outside work hours simply doesn’t realize the issue because no one’s ever spoken up about it before.
It’s always best to go straight to the source and work things out directly. But if you feel that communicating boundaries could result in retaliation, consider all other resources available—is there someone in HR you can talk to? Someone above the person who’s causing the issue?
Again, it’s up to you to weigh the risks and benefits of speaking up; in some cases, it might be better to try to move on as soon as possible.
Talk to past employees.
If you’re trying to determine whether speaking up might be beneficial or harmful, you could ask past employees about why they left, if they ever tried speaking up, and if so, what the result was.
Of course, you should take their responses with a grain of salt, as these past employees might have felt burned or jaded. But if you already have the feeling that your workplace might be toxic, there’s a good chance they’re painting a pretty accurate picture.
This is also something you might do before accepting a job offer. You can reach out to current or past employees (past employees might be more willing to give their honest take), and ask what they did or didn’t like about the job.
If you notice their feedback seems to contain recurring themes of any of the above issues, that’s a sign that the organization might have a toxic work environment.
Get out.
If you realize that there isn’t much hope of changing your toxic work environment, your best bet is probably to move on as soon as possible.
This becomes even more important if you feel that your job is taking a negative toll on your health. If necessary, consider finding an “in-between” job to hold you over until you can find something that aligns with your long-term goals.
If leaving right now simply isn’t an option, take a look at some of the things you can do to make your experience more tolerable. It’s not the best long-term solution, but it might help you hold onto your sanity while you look for a better optio
Moving on From a Toxic Job
If you’re ready to move on and look for greener pastures, you may find a refresher on the job application process helpful.
Check out our tips for writing a killer cover letter, acing job interviews, and accepting job offers. Then, send in your resignation letter and kiss that toxic work environment goodbye.
Have you ever had to leave a toxic work environment? Share your experience in the comments below!
If you enjoyed this post, then you might also like:
- How to Work from Home Like a Boss: 10 Tips for Working Remotely
- How to Set Boundaries: Healthy Lines to Draw at Work and at Home
- How to Write a Resignation Letter: Tips and Examples for a Professional Exit
- How to Decline a Job Offer Gracefully (with Examples)
As a blog writer for TCK Publishing, Kaelyn loves crafting fun and helpful content for writers, readers, and creative minds alike. She has a degree in International Affairs with a minor in Italian Studies, but her true passion has always been writing. Working remotely allows her to do even more of the things she loves, like traveling, cooking, and spending time with her family.
