Your workplace is like your second home. You spend the majority of your time at your office. Your co-workers are the people you interact with most in your daily life, after your friends and family.
Yet, it is impossible to become productive in a toxic workplace. The intangible aspects that make your work-life healthy can impact your personal life to your self-esteem. Likewise, the increased tension of working in a dysfunctional office can directly affect your job.
Here are some warning signs of a toxic workplace:
· Unfair Policies and Unequal Enforcement of Them
If your company is imposing rules selectively on specific employees, it usually indicates management plays favoritism. For example, work environments that do not set a standard code of conduct enable some people to exercise special privileges.
It is a good sign of a toxic workplace, and you should note that.
· High Turnover Rate
If a company is unable to retain its employees, there may be a solid reason behind that. For example, a high turnover rate usually represents poor leadership, unrealistic expectations from employees, or low employee engagement.
Suppose that you have been working at any organization for more than a year. You notice that your co-workers happily leave the company, do take a note about this.
· Everyone Has a Bad Attitude
Suppose you work in an organization where everyone around shows hostility. In that type of office, you will not feel enthusiastic and will not go to a company with a smile on your face.
· Employees Hang Out More
Have you seen employees at the water cooler or in the cafeteria more? Are they spending more time in unproductive activities? If yes, then most likely, it is a sign of a toxic environment.
If they lower their voices or break up near the management, they positively gossip or spread rumors.
· Employee Sickness
An unhealthy workplace causes employee burnout, fatigue, or a high level of stress. So, if your co-workers are depressed, stressed, and worst sick, it indicates a toxic work environment.
· Your input is not valued
The first sign of a toxic workplace is when you present your views, but nobody listens to you. On the other hand, employees that deal with problems are a reliable source of solutions.
If your thoughts are not appreciated or treated as valuable, management does not prefer their employees. Companies spend a lot on their employees as they spend on other assets.
So by ignoring the inputs from the team, the company is wasting essential and priceless information. Organizations that do not value the opinions of their employees will nourish the toxic work environment.
· Stifled Growth
If you are not experiencing growth in your organization, your organization’s environment might be toxic, even if it is toxic for you. For example, suppose your workplace doesn’t seem to offer you any mobility, mentorship, or learning opportunities.
They are likely not bothered about the growth of their employees. However, once you recognize that you can not grow, it’s a good time to change the company.
· No Work-Life Balance
Every employee deserves to have a life outside their work. You should be able to switch your Slack information to OFF. You should be able to leave your work pending after dinner if an emergency occurs on Tuesday.
You should be able to meet your doctor without feeling guilty. If you can not do these things, then it is a sign of a toxic workplace.
What To Do?
If you are unsatisfied with your organization or feel the workplace has a toxic environment, you can consult an employment lawyer. An employment lawyer can help you resolve different employment-related issues such as sexual harassment, wage problems, workplace discrimination, etc.
Conclusion
If you feel unsatisfied, trust your gut. If you want to get a second opinion, do so. Hire a good employment lawyer and workout your problems.