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30 Things That Happen Only In A Toxic Workplace
Economy & LaborMAR 12, 2025

30 Things That Happen Only In A Toxic Workplace

Jonas Žvilius
Oleksandra Kyryliuk
Jonas Žvilius and Oleksandra Kyryliuk
44
10
When job hunting, many of us are willing to do just about anything to get hired. But in the process, we tend to forget that it’s not just companies interviewing us—we’re also interviewing them. That’s why, when we get the chance, we need to think twice before accepting the final offer.
To help with that, one man on Threads asked people to share the first signs that a job is going to be toxic. Check out some of their best advice below, and if you’ve got any wisdom to add, drop it in the comments!

#1

30 Things That Happen Only In A Toxic Workplace
“We wear many hats here” means you’ll be doing two or three jobs for the price of one
rileslynch, Mikhail Nilov/Pexels
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52points

#2

30 Things That Happen Only In A Toxic Workplace
No respect for breaks. Expects you to work through lunch.
lv2danze, Marcus Aurelius/Pexels
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49points

#3

30 Things That Happen Only In A Toxic Workplace
When the manager makes excuses for the coworker's laziness. They favor the lazy coworker and punish the hard worker with more work.
lilac.purple.rose, Yan Krukau/Pexels
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47points

Bored Panda reached out to Country, the poster behind the viral Threads question, to find out what inspired him to ask it.

As an award-winning event manager, multicultural marketer, and digital creator, he’s spent his career bridging culture, conversation, and brand storytelling—so he’s seen it all.

“I’ve worked entry-level jobs in fast food, retail, and call centers, and now I manage marketing campaigns for brands like the Super Bowl, Oprah Winfrey, and the FDA’s Fresh Empire initiative,” he told us. “I’ve seen both sides, from struggling to get a lunch break to leading teams on multimillion-dollar projects. I wanted to start a conversation that let people share their experiences and recognize the warning signs of a toxic job before they get stuck in one.”

#4

30 Things That Happen Only In A Toxic Workplace
They tell you don’t talk about pay
miyzaplug, Mikhail Nilov/Pexels
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45points

#5

30 Things That Happen Only In A Toxic Workplace
Your boss is the owner’s child.
melissaboufounos, Antoni Shkraba/Pexels
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42points

#6

30 Things That Happen Only In A Toxic Workplace
When the manager texts the entire group about a mistake you did instead of just directly messaging you
dreamingofwater_, Andrea Piacquadio/Pexels
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42points

#7

30 Things That Happen Only In A Toxic Workplace
When there are more than 3 interview stages. Worked for the companies like that. Company culture was always toxic.
wodza, Tima Miroshnichenko/Pexels
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41points

#8

30 Things That Happen Only In A Toxic Workplace
when you start your first day and realize…almost every one just started working there. it’s giving high turnover
yasminecheyenne, Mikhail Nilov/Pexels
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40points

#9

30 Things That Happen Only In A Toxic Workplace
“We’re like a close knit family here.”
thenutritiontea, Tima Miroshnichenko/Pexels
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39points

#10

30 Things That Happen Only In A Toxic Workplace
When people constantly talk sh*t behind peoples back and then being fake to them 😭
raylivez, fauxels/Pexels
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39points

#11

30 Things That Happen Only In A Toxic Workplace
When there is no professionalism, a lot of gossip, and also the managers never care about u as a human and only the customers matter
mrhm_2002, cottonbro studio/Pexels
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36points

#12

30 Things That Happen Only In A Toxic Workplace
Higher ups playing favorites ( managers/ supervisors )
xmo_pris, Mimi Thian
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33points

#13

30 Things That Happen Only In A Toxic Workplace
They are late to the interview they set up. Immediately no
omgfrenchie, Ketut Subiyanto/Pexels
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32points

#14

30 Things That Happen Only In A Toxic Workplace
When the post asks for a “rockstar” “ninja” or “unicorn”
betaraybecca, Startup Stock Photos/Pexels
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31points

#15

30 Things That Happen Only In A Toxic Workplace
A clearly s**t manager from the word go who contacts you at 7pm at night asking you to do something you’ve never done before and insists they have it first thing in the morning, then chastises you for not knowing the process of the task they have assigned.
village_goth, Tima Miroshnichenko/Pexels
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30points

#16

30 Things That Happen Only In A Toxic Workplace
weekly working lunches.
every single time i’ve worked at a place like this, the leadership had NO boundaries
yasminecheyenne, Kaboompics.com/Pexels
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29points

#17

30 Things That Happen Only In A Toxic Workplace
When orientation or onboarding isn’t planned out properly. This happened at my current job that should’ve been a red flag 🚩 to me 7 months ago. However, I will be leaving tomorrow. Last day thank goodness 😅
momdukes.720, The Jopwell Collection
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29points

#18

30 Things That Happen Only In A Toxic Workplace
Getting PTO approved requires you to jump through any hoop
khurl__, cottonbro studio/Pexels
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29points

#19

30 Things That Happen Only In A Toxic Workplace
As soon as your manager talks negatively about one of your teammates in your department, it's over.
griffyyyy, fauxels/Pexels
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28points

#20

30 Things That Happen Only In A Toxic Workplace
When the tagline says that they’re looking for highly motivated self starters.. aka we won’t help you / train you properly so you better be able to think quickly on your feet
thegenericversion, Andrea Piacquadio/Pexels
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28points
44
10