7 Signs Of A Toxic Work Environment

A healthy work environment produces satisfaction, well-being and good relationships among colleagues. However, these circumstances do not always occur. Sometimes in our work place we may feel frustrated, tired and unmotivated and even, that we do not even feel like going, either because of a colleague, a boss or even because of the atmosphere that is breathed there in general. A toxic work environment can have very negative consequences on us.

If we take into account that any company or organization is a hotbed of emotions, it is not uncommon to think that conflicts and differences exist. The problem is not that they originate but how they are managed and how far they can go. In this way, a toxic work environment is distinguished by derogatory treatment, aggressive and overly competitive attitudes and even by moody and manipulative behaviors.

Learning to detect if toxicity is released in your workplace will be of great help to protect you and prevent you from being impregnated with it. Here we explain some of the most common characteristics of this type of environment. Let’s go deeper.

1. Absenteeism

It’s normal for people to get sick, have medical appointments, or need to attend an occasional activity that forces them to miss work. However, when this behavior becomes repetitive, it could become a red flag .

Being absent at least three times a month or more, or constantly asking for leaves of absence – whether for personal activities, medical appointments or illness – is a typical form of absenteeism. In the event that there are no good reasons, it can be a good indication that there is a toxic work environment .

Another form of absenteeism is mental absence . That is, arriving at your workplace and using most of the time to carry out activities that are not related to your tasks.

These types of behavior can be corrected if the leader is responsible for increasing employee motivation. Getting it is essential to prevent discouragement from spreading between them.

2. Abuse by superiors

Another sign of a toxic work environment is when there is no respect in the way superiors address other staff. It can also occur when they indiscriminately use cynicism and sarcasm to address employees.

This is also reflected in derogatory comments, non-constructive criticism, and peer comparisons. Instead of encouraging teamwork, these behaviors incite excessive competition and discomfort.

3. Bad communication

Communication problems at work often occur when communication is not direct, incomplete, or not entirely true. This generates situations of uncertainty, double meanings and confusion that generate mental traps in the people who receive it and, ultimately, errors or failures in work activity.

In many cases, bosses are not clear or specific about how they want certain tasks performed, waiting for their subordinates to “read their mind” or guess the details. Thus, if this situation is maintained over time, frustration, insecurity and demotivation will come to the scene. 

4. Little employee protection

This situation occurs when the company is more concerned with its own interests (customers, cost savings, etc.) than with the interests of the workers. Normally,  there is no rotation and no chances of promotion. Neither training relevant to the position nor career plans are offered.

In this context, people can stay ten years performing the same task, without the possibility of being promoted or not even being considered for a promotion. Internal policies are unknown to staff and change without notice. Typically, all of these behaviors create great discomfort among employees and a toxic work environment. 

5. Dictatorial leadership

In this case, the leader makes all the decisions no matter what his team thinks . They do not listen to or want to know the opinions of others, generating this situation a fear of expressing disagreement on the part of the workers.

Dictatorial leaders are often distrustful people, since they believe that only they can do the job well, and that no one knows as much as they do. Many times this mistrust is due to internal insecurities, especially when one of the employees stands out and in some way, can begin to see him as a threat.

This kind of toxic work environment has the aggravation that employees cannot count on the figure of the leader as someone who can help them solve a problem.

6. Role problems

The role is the function that a person performs in their job and although it can be extremely complex, it is essential to have it well defined. Otherwise,  the person may not be very clear about their role in the company. 

When this happens, inappropriate tasks may be carried out or excessive, inconsistent or incompatible demands and demands may have to be dealt with to get the job done.

7. Mobbing

Workplace harassment or mobbing is usually one of the most common situations in a toxic work environment. It occurs when one or more colleagues make the work of another difficult, putting obstacles on a professional and personal level. In addition, a bad relationship with colleagues can be a great source of stress.

As we can see, all these problems can affect employees both physically and psychologically, affecting our sense of well-being in general. Therefore, it is necessary to combat them to manage or avoid a toxic work environment.