In some ways, there’s nothing more important than a safe workplace culture. Why? We spend about 50% of our waking hours working with people in person or remotely.  As a result, the workplace has a major impact on our mental, emotional, psychological, and, quite frankly, even our social health. So, I wanted to address the idea of the toxic workplace. 

Workplace Culture Matters

I had a recent interaction with an HR professional. I remember her saying to me (and there was a lot of raw emotion when she brought this up), “Abe, I am 100% sure that I CAN’T keep going like this. And even IF I could go on, I wouldn’t want to go on.” What she was talking about was what she was experiencing in her workplace—the toxic culture. 

You only have to be on the job for about 5 seconds to realize that workplace culture actually matters. Research from Havard Business Review shows that companies with a strong corporate culture see a 4x increase in revenue growth compared to companies with a weak culture. 

So, imagine you have a company with a weak culture that’s permeated by a bunch of small people doing small things (hurting each other, operating out of spite, etc.). That kind of company will have a 4x less increase in revenue than a company with a strong workplace culture. 

In fact, 47% of organizations with a successful company culture saw massive revenue increases in the last year, compared to just 9% of those with unsuccessful or toxic company cultures. 

So, it’s not that a toxic workplace culture can’t survive. If you have a great business model, you can actually survive for a period of time with a toxic culture. However, your revenue growth will be greatly reduced and compromised as a result of that kind of workplace. 

What is a Toxic Workplace?

It’s important to understand the distinguishing characteristics of a toxic workplace. This will give us insight into what to look for and how to fix it. But with that being said, here are some of the signs of a toxic workplace culture:

1. 1. Lack of trust: A huge component of a toxic workplace is a lack of trust. When you come into a work environment feeling like you always need to watch your back because of gossiping co-workers or an overbearing boss, that is a red flag of workplace toxicity.

   2. Driven to burnout: A toxic workplace culture often drives you to burnout. About 61% of workers say they are burnt out from their jobs, and 31% report high levels of work stress.

   3. Office politics: It’s hard to focus in the workplace when other people are trying to impose their personal politics, political correctness, etc., on you. When people are consumed with power and position, it can create a very toxic workplace environment. 

These are just some of the things to look out for that may signify you’re in a toxic workplace. But I don’t think that gets us far enough. So, let’s explore a few more concrete examples that will let you know your workplace culture is toxic.

4 Signs of a Toxic Workplace Culture

I have an MBA from one of the top business schools in Canada. And there wasn’t a single class on workplace culture. So, you get lots of information on finance, accounting, bookkeeping, supply chain management, and all these things, but the most important asset you have is the people on the job. For this reason, you have to create a culture that supports those people. 

The first step to creating that culture is eliminating the things that can destroy it. So, here are four signs of a toxic workplace culture.

1. Not Feeling Seen

A toxic workplace is an environment where you and I—as contributors to that team—don’t feel like we’re seen. Did you know that only one in three workers in the U.S. say that they feel they’ve recognition from their work within the past 7 days? I want you to understand the impact of that because people are not just working for a paycheck. 

Of course, that’s a good starting point (we have to eat after all). However, most people work really hard because they crave recognition. They want to be acknowledged and seen. Here’s where it gets interesting… Employees who don’t feel recognized are twice as likely to look for another job. Your people just want you to see them, and it literally costs you nothing to do that. 

2. Not Feeling Heard

There’s a statistic that says one in four employees actually dreads going to work. That is scary. If one in every four people in your organization dreads doing their work, that will have a major impact on productivity and profit. But here’s the other thing about that one in four: They don’t feel safe voicing their opinions. 

So, when they dread going to work, is it because they’re lazy or lacking talent? Probably not. I think people who feel heard and like they can voice their opinions are excited to go to work. Why? Because then they can make a contribution that actually matters. 

Even in your marriage or relationships with your closest friends, if your spouse or friend shuts you down every time you open your mouth, of course, you won’t want to be around them for long. 

3. Not Feeling Understood

When I don’t feel seen, heard, and understood, that’s a toxic work environment. When I don’t feel understood, what’s really happening is a lack of empathy. If there’s anything COVID-19 taught us about the job, it’s that everyone’s situation is different. And if I want to understand the situation of my time, I need to adapt the approach I’m looking for from them. 

People who don’t feel understood often struggle more with mental health, which can result in worse physical health. And it all stems from not feeling people “get them” and their situation. I read this Swedish Proverb that said, “Shared joy is a double joy, and shared sorrow is a half sorrow.”

I’ve had hundreds of employees over the years, and when they come to me with a problem, I have two choices… I can take the exclusion route and the empathetic route. And let me just say that the exclusion route is never a good path to go down. 

So, I’m always open to conversation to ensure that the work environment remains a toxic-free place for everyone.

4. Not Experiencing Clarity

Being clear means each employee knows what’s expected of them. Each person’s standards, metrics, responsibilities, tasks, etc., need to be clear. If your company is well-established, things will typically be pretty predictable. However, if you’re in a startup or entrepreneurial environment, things will be much more dynamic. 

But here’s the thing: even if the situation is changing all around, I think effective leaders need to ensure that they’re as clear as possible. We often neglect to clearly communicate our expectations and what we want others to do. 

Vagueness is hard on people; it creates confusion and uncertainty. Clarity gives people direction and guidance. As Brene Brown once said, “Clear is kind; unclear is unkind.”

Conclusion

Toxic workplaces are no fun at all. Let me promise you we can help. I’ll tell you what: At Flourishing Workplace, we believe in creating workplaces where everyone thrives, everyone belongs, and everyone contributes. We don’t just care about your business; we care about you as people. So, if you’re ready to create a flourishing workplace, I encourage you to book a no-cost, no-obligation discovery call today.

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About the Author

Abe Brown, MBA, CMCT, CPHSA is the Coach’s Coach, and is an Entrepreneur, Professional Speaker, International Best-Selling Author, and High-Performance Leadership Coach. He is the founder of Certified Flourishing Coaching™ and Flourishing Workplace. Abe is also the author of the Certified Flourishing Coaching™ Programs.