7 Signs Of A Toxic Workplace

Work takes a huge chunk of our time. For some people, they spend more hours in their offices doing their work than in their homes spending time with their loved ones. With such a big part of our lives committed to our careers and workplaces, isn’t it important to develop work environments that take care of our well-being?

Unfortunately, a lot of workplaces don’t value their employees’ health and wellness. They can be very toxic, with lots of stressors from horrible bosses to gossiping colleagues and unfair demands. Do you feel like you might be stuck in a toxic work environment? You better look at these seven signs of a toxic workplace as explained by executive coach Ray Williams, author of Eye of Storm: How Mindful Leaders Can Transform Chaotic Workplaces.

1. Lack of care for work-life balance

If you find yourself sacrificing your family life for your job, that’s a big red flag. Toxic work environments don’t care about families, personal relationships, and even mental health. They will just try to milk you as much as they can and get you to do as much overtime work without any concern for your life outside the office.

2. Bullies in positions of power

Bosses that are bullies add to a very stressful workplace. They use their power to demean and discriminate others. If they don’t do the bullying themselves, they tolerate it in the team.

3. A gigantic bottom line

Some workplaces only care about making a profit. They focus on earning money, beating the competition, and cutting costs without care about other bottom lines being sacrificed in the process.

4. Frustrating bureaucracy

The creeping bureaucracy and slow movement in a workplace can really take its toll on an employee. When there are too many levels of approvals to get things done and those in positions of authority like to micromanage, perhaps it’s time to rethink your stay.

5. No compassion and empathy

If you’re being treated like an object rather than a valuable asset in the company, you’re surely in a toxic workspace. It’s better to look for a better environment where you will be valued and treated with respect.

6. All criticisms and no recognition

Does your boss only criticize your mistakes and never recognize your great ideas and performance? Or is there obvious favoritism in the workplace? If so, where you are now may not be the right and helpful place for you.

7. Internal competition

A little competition is healthy, but when people are pitted against each other instead of encouraged to work as a team, the environment will just become even more stressful. It can also cause conflicts between colleagues.

What do you think of these seven signs of a toxic workplace? Do you have any more to add? Let us know in the comments below!