Signs you’re in a toxic work environment

For most Americans, their office serves as a second home. In fact, the average person will spend one third of their life working. That makes the workplace environment, from relationships with coworkers to bosses and the company’s culture itself, vital to your happiness. 

In order to feel fulfilled and effective, workers need to be in a positive and encouraging environment. Unfortunately, there are countless workers across the nation who find themselves in a toxic environment. Here are the top signs that your workplace is toxic, helping you know when it’s time to leave. 

You’re Told That You’re Lucky to Have a Job

A lot of people say this age-old line, but it’s different when you hear it from a boss. Management uses this as a scare tactic, threatening you job security to keep you complacent with a lack of promotions, miniscule pay, and other subpar aspects of the job. 

Poor Communication

A lack of communication will always create a toxic environment in the long run. You might be left out of the loop on important information pertaining to your job duties, receive little to no feedback on your performance, or only ever receive negative communication from your boss. 

A Pervasive Negative Attitude

When everyone you work with becomes noticeably miserable, there’s something wrong. While you can’t expect everyone to always have a smile on their face and love their job, a toxic environment breeds negativity. This becomes infectious and eventually leads to a high turnover rate. 

Drama, Drama, Drama

Toxic environments are ripe with workplace drama. Cliques begin to dominate, creating a high school-like experience for employees. This leads to anxiety and paranoia as well as infighting amongst staff. It isn’t long before everyone develops a dog-eat-dog mentality, but drama can also lead to sexual harassment at work and other legal issues. 

Dysfunction is the Only Way

Chaos and toxicity go hand in hand. If you find that meetings are a waste of time or help with nothing, that’s one red flag. Confused employees, continuous new policies, and a lack of management are others. Dysfunction stems from poor leadership, leaving employees to fend for themselves.

Tyranny

Some bosses think that the best way to keep their employees under control is with an iron fist. They wait for opportunities to pounce on their staff, often exploding with anger and demeaning employees. They may refuse to give credit for a job well done, dole out harsh punishments for nonsensical or minor infractions, and make unrealistic expectations. 

HR Does Nothing

HR is the middle ground between employees and management, which means they are supposed to be there for both groups. In toxic environments, HR is nothing more than a failsafe for poor or tyrannical bosses. If you approach them and no changes are ever made or the company retaliates against you, it’s time to leave.

Trust Your Gut

At the end of the day, your gut will tell you when an environment has turned toxic. All of the signs above can help you identify toxicity in the workplace, but your body is the best indicator. Sleepless nights, anxiety, depression, and a racing heartbeat are all indications that you need to find a new job.