A tense atmosphere can pervade a workplace, where negativity is in the air, stress levels through the roof as the dread of another day looms heavy. In these areas, workers tend to feel insecure, discouraged and uneasy. That is all too common in a toxic work environment.
Hostile environments can generate harassment and more widespread, systemic toxicity, damaging a company’s culture and productivity. Understanding these impacts and learning how to avoid them is key to creating a healthy workplace.
How to Identify a Toxic Work Environment
On the whole, a toxic work environment is described by several negative factors. Bad communication and a lack of information can leave employees confused on how to complete their tasks.
Unsupportive management and colleagues results in an isolated workplace where employees feel unvalued. High-stress levels caused by unattainable expectations, excessive workloads, and unreasonable demands are all significant factors in toxicity.
Worse still, the problem is compounded by an ever present negativity, when there is more criticism and blame than praise and encouragement. Common instances of such environments are a workplace where bullying is rampant, where favoritism is a natural way of life, and where transparency has no place.
Linking the Connection between Toxic Environments and Harassment
A toxic work environment is a perfect breeding ground for harassment. In cultures of negativity and stress, inappropriate behaviors are not kept in check, leading to harassment. In these contexts, power imbalances are radicalized as managers take advantage of their employees without ramifications.
Without clear policies and enforcement, bad behaviors are simply considered standard expectation and harassment can become pervasive. Research has found a significantly higher rate of harassment in toxic work environments. For example, the Workplace Bullying Institute notes that workplaces suffering from elevated levels of stress and bad management are more likely to experience widespread bullying and harassment.
If you are experiencing such issues, seeking advice from a workplace harassment lawyer in Los Angeles can be an important step in understanding your rights and taking action.
Broader Effects on Employees and the Organization
A toxic workplace extends beyond a few incidents of harassment, which impacts not only individual employees but also the organization.
Over time, it creates an unhealthy and negative environment that weighs on everyone–both emotionally by inducing feelings of anxiety or depression, as well as physical health with burnout. This results in a dramatic decrease in job satisfaction, which will skyrocket morale even further down.
There are also dire results for employers. It decreases overall productivity because employees cannot operate under such circumstances. High turnover rates incentivize employees to seek greener pastures elsewhere as absenteeism rises.
In addition, the company’s reputation will face long-term damage because it will find it hard to attract and keep the best talents. Potential employees hesitate to walk into a place rife with unhappy people, making recruitment even more difficult.
How to Spot the Toxic Elements in Your Workplace
Finding toxicity in your work environment and addressing it head-on is the first step. Are your failing teams experiencing any of the following: poor communication, persistent negativity or obvious favoritism? Do employees seem to be under constant stress, or do they frequently express that they are overwhelmed with work? Have you experienced high rates of employee turnover or absenteeism?
These are all red flags pointing to toxicity. Using surveys or feedback sessions can allow employees to express their thoughts and areas of concern.
Prevention and Strategies to Deal With Toxicity
Dealing with toxicity can be done with proactive measures. Leadership determines the mood and culture at work. As managers, encourage respectful and supportive behavior, which will result in an inclusive and positive environment.
Policy developed specifically around harassment and bullying, backed by regular training sessions, will both create awareness and outline the organizational reaction to behaviors with a policy breach.
Communication should be open and employees need to be assured protections are in place for them to report bad behavior without fear of retaliation.
Ensuring the presence of support systems like HR involvement, employee assistance programs and opportunities for employee feedback help to offer assistance to employees who need it. Promoting team spirit, celebrating success and respecting work-life balance are other measures to make the work environment healthy.
It is important to note that toxic work environments are home to harassment and spoil the healthy culture of any workplace.
By knowing what to look for, businesses can take certain actions early on that can help grow an organization fostering support and respect. Make an effort to start the change at your office to make it a respectful and productive workplace, starting today.
