9 traits of a toxic work culture and how to overcome it

Nobody would ever want their workplace to feel like a high school all over again, where people form internal groups and make you a part of their gossip. 

It is normal to have acquaintances and work friends who maintain transparency and do not infiltrate the information. But, when the behavior patterns show groups are focused on spreading negativity, there is a high chance it will result in toxicity.

Bullying, harassment, name-calling, frequent conflicts, disrespectful remarks, and confusing communication can create siloes between teams and managers. It leaves you confused and unaware of important information among the team. 

A while back, a viral video exposed a prominent bank's manager for yelling obscenities at employees, highlighting a “super toxic culture.”

When employees are ignored, undervalued, and unrecognized for their efforts, it can create a domino effect in the workplace. Feeling overlooked and underappreciated can lead to a lack of motivation, thereby reducing job satisfaction.

Employees who feel ignored are less likely to go the extra mile, impacting the overall quality of work and hampering the organization’s ability to achieve goals.

Micromanagement and lack of autonomy are two interrelated issues that result in a toxic workplace culture; micromanagement is when there is excessive supervision of employees’ tasks, making you feel suffocated and consuming your creative and innovative side.

Lack of autonomy results from micromanagement, making you feel helpless and frustrated. When employees feel incapable of making any decisions and taking ownership of their work, it can lead to them contributing less to the organization. 

Death caused by toxic work culture is a social problem, says Delhi High Court

In a toxic work culture, it's common for employees to feel overburdened with work, experience unrealistic expectations, and feel no presence of a work-life balance on a regular basis.

Overburdens and unrealistic expectations result in chronic stress, anxiety, burnout, and decreased job satisfaction. The absence of a work-life balance makes employees emotionally and mentally drained, severely impacting their health and personal lives. 

Narcissistic leadership is a toxic behavior pattern where the person in power showcases self-centered behavior and a superiority complex and makes employees feel inferior. Lack of consideration and unilateral decision-making causes employees to feel discouraged from expressing their ideas, which can hinder creativity and problem-solving.

Suppose an employee feels that there is a lack of respect for personal space, no priority to his mental well-being, and an absence of a clear line of accountability. In that case, that is a clear sign of an unhealthy work environment.

In a toxic work culture, an employee's well-being is often compromised and his personal struggles and issues are exposed, causing embarrassment and emotional distress.

Gaslighting is a manipulative and psychologically abusive tactic in which individuals or leaders undermine the reality and perception of others and it can be manifested in several ways:

• Denying responsibility
• Blaming others
• Minimizing concerns

Ultimately, this results in poor interpersonal relationships, isolation, and a culture of distrust and fear. Employees find it difficult to cooperate and share knowledge and choose to leave in worst-case scenarios.

Recently, an employee working for a prominent American technology company was compelled to resign due to workplace misconduct, lack of support, and a distressing experience dealing with an incentive HR department.

The twin challenges of burnout and career stagnation are interlinked, extending a never-ending cycle of employee disengagement and dissatisfaction. Burnouts caused by unrealistic workloads, as mentioned above, if prolonged, can result in career stagnation. 

A toxic work culture often does not provide any opportunities for growth, advancement, or the scope of creativity & innovation, contributing to career stagnation. It also might result from favoritism, partiality, and nepotism, making it difficult to advance in a career.

It is necessary to ‘talk it out’ and have clear communication and, at the same time, maintain formality with the concerned party involved. Before confronting the party, you should prepare thoroughly with incidents and facts that work in your favor, help you make a stronger case, and demonstrate that you are addressing real issues and not mentioning personal opinions.

Save important emails and minutes of the meetings, take notes of important discussions and phone calls, and keep tabs on every person who interacts with you because it will help you back your claim if, in the future, you choose to file a complaint or become a whistleblower. 

If you think calling out the party involved in spreading toxicity against you is not doing any good, it is better to involve a neutral party. if the party involved is a co-worker, it also makes sense to involve senior leadership or your manager and make them aware of your situation, asking for a resolution.

It is very important to focus on your mental well-being and relax after work by indulging in your favorite pastimes that help you understand that work is a part of life, not the whole life, and it is mandatory to have a life outside work.

Some of the ways you can unwind after work and focus on self-care can be –

• Read books
• Journal your thoughts
• Find a support group
• Meditate and follow a yoga routine
• Go to the gym
• Cook meals

Note: This checklist is by no means medically approved for self-diagnosis of anxiety, depression, or other illness. Something that might work for others may not work for you.

The employee should strive for a work life balance by following strict office hours and ensuring there are no burnouts in the process.

Leave work issues at work and compartmentalize your personal and professional life, and once you are home, do not think about work at all, which will induce peace and relaxation.

If you feel that the lunch breaks are also filled with gossip, ostracism, and cliques, then you should take your lunch break elsewhere, as it is better to stay alone in the dark then be with a toxic company in the light.

Seek the support of reliable coworkers who are not directly involved in this situation and can give you rational insights about how to get out of this correctly, leading to better resilience in the workplace. 

After a point of time, if it becomes too much and you feel you cannot take it anymore, it is time to polish your CV and take that plunge. A healthy work environment impacts your professional and personal growth and your family and loved ones.

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