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30 Signs Of A Toxic Workplace That Many People Are So Used To, They Don't Recognize Them

30 Signs Of A Toxic Workplace That Many People Are So Used To, They Don't Recognize Them

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You can’t understate the importance of the culture your company fosters in the workplace. It might be something intangible, but it has very real consequences. It affects you each and every day. And it can leave you feeling motivated and purposeful or quite the opposite—burned out and wishing you could quit.
The r/AskReddit online community recounted some of the main signs of a toxic workplace, and we’ve collected some of their most on-point insights. Scroll down to have a read. It’s a great cheat sheet to check whether your own management supports its staff or exploits them for a quick profit.

#1

30 Signs Of A Toxic Workplace That Many People Are So Used To, They Don't Recognize Them
A high employee turnover is a quick way to determine its not a good place to work.
61points

#2

30 Signs Of A Toxic Workplace That Many People Are So Used To, They Don't Recognize Them
When boss yells at employees in front of everyone else.
56points

#3

30 Signs Of A Toxic Workplace That Many People Are So Used To, They Don't Recognize Them
When all your coworkers talk s**t about each other behind their backs, you know they're talking s**t about you behind your back, too.
54points

A toxic workplace environment is an amalgamation of lots of small things. There usually isn’t one single factor that drives all the negativity. Although, a sufficiently power-tripping and micromanaging boss might be able to do that all on their own.

According to Indeed, toxic workplaces tend to have high turnover rates. Companies that can’t keep hold of their workers and push away top talent clearly have deeper issues. Like being unable to properly motivate their workforce. Or pressuring them to embrace an unhealthy work-life balance. Or making them do ethically iffy things.

#4

30 Signs Of A Toxic Workplace That Many People Are So Used To, They Don't Recognize Them
Lack of promotion from within despite qualified and motivated employees.
Frequent reminders that employees of equal position should not discuss their wage and will be reprimanded if they do.
42points

#5

30 Signs Of A Toxic Workplace That Many People Are So Used To, They Don't Recognize Them
They put as many tasks as they can on the newer people and call it training
40points

#6

30 Signs Of A Toxic Workplace That Many People Are So Used To, They Don't Recognize Them
Micromanagement.
34points

Toxic companies also mostly focus on what their employees provide for the company instead of the other way around. Good management practices dictate that the business ought to find ways to support the staff. On the flip side, bosses who aren’t interested in seeing their workers grow professionally and improve their skills are only pushing them away.

You might also be surrounded by workplace toxicity if you’re constantly feeling exhausted, falling ill, and have very little enthusiasm for your job. If you’re constantly surrounded by colleagues who feel the same, then there’s a problem. It’s only exacerbated if there are little to no opportunities for positive social encounters. A thriving culture of gossip and exclusion is a sure sign that the environment is toxic.

#7

30 Signs Of A Toxic Workplace That Many People Are So Used To, They Don't Recognize Them
When it feels like you're in school again. If there's actively petty drama, it means either the boss doesn't know or doesn't stop it. Either way is no good. Also, the moment you start getting criticized for anything not related to your work (looks, intelligence, etc.). You shouldn't be getting paid to be bullied.
34points

#9

30 Signs Of A Toxic Workplace That Many People Are So Used To, They Don't Recognize Them
Dirty employee bathroom. Check the ply on the toilet paper too. If it looks like Soviet-era wood pulp - end the interview and scoot out of there.
31points

Social psychologist Tessa West, the author of ‘Jerks at Work: Toxic Coworkers and What to Do About Them,’ noted that toxicity at work isn’t all that rare.

“The hard truth is that most of us will experience toxicity at some point in our career, either from a boss or a coworker. Whether we realize it or not, we might also be part of the problem. My research found the dominant response by those witnessing toxic behavior at work is, ‘I’m not part of the problem; I don’t want to be part of the solution,’” she explained that many employees fear retribution or they feel burned out.

#10

30 Signs Of A Toxic Workplace That Many People Are So Used To, They Don't Recognize Them
For me, there are a few:
1. No one ever smiles. I get a lot of people have RBF and aren’t required to smile all day long, but if I walk though my entire workplace and not one person looks even remotely enthused then I probably am in a toxic environment. At my last job, you could go weeks without even hearing someone laugh in be break room because everyone was so dead.
2. Lots of turnover/new hires leaving quickly. This is a huge red flag and the hardest to overcome, because it is such a cycle. Top performers are unhappy, leave and put the workload on everyone else there, which makes them even more unhappy and they will leave soon after. Then, management tries to hire all new people but hey need time to understand the work, and then feel overwhelmed and leave. It ends up with everyone being overworked and no one sticking around for longer than a few months.
3. Finally, changes for the sake of changing. I’m all for innovation and new ideas in the workplace, but I believe that they should be done with a purpose. If no one is sure why something is changing, then it’s a sign that management is spinning their wheels and just hoping that something will stick.
30points

#11

30 Signs Of A Toxic Workplace That Many People Are So Used To, They Don't Recognize Them
Culture of fear. When nobody takes risks, and everybody has a CYA mentality. Then when something goes wrong, everybody scrambles to throw someone under the bus.
28points

#12

30 Signs Of A Toxic Workplace That Many People Are So Used To, They Don't Recognize Them
When you first start, the managers are unwilling to answer questions you may have. Or are at least condescending about it. Bad sign. If you're new you should be asking plenty of questions, it only makes sense.
28points

#13

30 Signs Of A Toxic Workplace That Many People Are So Used To, They Don't Recognize Them
S****y communication, drama, your boss complains to your coworker about other coworkers, your boss doesn’t do anything to fix issues
24points

#14

30 Signs Of A Toxic Workplace That Many People Are So Used To, They Don't Recognize Them
When everyone hates the boss but can't honestly tell him/her how to improve out of fear of retribution.
24points

#15

30 Signs Of A Toxic Workplace That Many People Are So Used To, They Don't Recognize Them
Scapegoating and bullying. Someone asked me if I'd noticed that on one foreman's crew there was always one guy who was the scapegoat. If he left, they'd single someone else out to be the whipping boy.
22points

#16

30 Signs Of A Toxic Workplace That Many People Are So Used To, They Don't Recognize Them
helping a coworker and getting glares from others during it.
20points

#17

30 Signs Of A Toxic Workplace That Many People Are So Used To, They Don't Recognize Them
When there is a work outing every other day and they eg you on to come out and whine when you don't.
I SEE U GUYS MORE THAN I SEE MY OWN FAMILY
18points

#18

30 Signs Of A Toxic Workplace That Many People Are So Used To, They Don't Recognize Them
They tell you there's ample opportunity for overtime. That just means they can't keep enough people to run a full crew.
They tell you during orientation not to trust your coworkers, because everyone there is a backstabber.
They offer a reward program for spilling the beans on people violating the rules.
Team leads and managers openly speak ill of other employees in your presence.
People are constantly talking about each other, and then being friendly when facing that person.
Cops are called onto the premises at least once a month due to employee theft, fights, or threats.
Company announces that there won't be a raise that year, then the later the same day announces record profits.
Reports of drugs being sold on premises are ignored.
All of these happened at a single warehouse I worked at.
17points

#19

30 Signs Of A Toxic Workplace That Many People Are So Used To, They Don't Recognize Them
Employees don't seem to enjoy being around each other.
16points

#20

30 Signs Of A Toxic Workplace That Many People Are So Used To, They Don't Recognize Them
Silos, people not willing to help others or answer questions.
12points
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