You probably spend 40 hours or more working per week, but in a toxic work environment, that time spent can feel much longer, and it can have a huge impact on your mental, physical, and emotional health as well as your home life and how you interact with loved ones.
Maybe you’re already starting to understand what this feels like. Do you find that you have “quiet quit” but can’t quite put your finger on why? Maybe you are waking up dreading going into the office, or maybe it’s the thought of going to yet another meeting knowing that no one is going to listen to your suggestions—or worse, that someone is going to steal them—that’s dragging you down. These could all be early signs of burnout, yes, but they’re also indicators of a toxic workplace. Let’s talk about why.
What is a toxic workplace?
A toxic workplace is an environment that allows negative, antagonistic, or bullying into the culture. Employees are stressed, blame culture is the norm, and workers or leaders are rewarded for taking harmful, unethical actions. Around 30 million, or one in nine, U.S. workers experience their workplace as toxic, according to research conducted by MIT Sloan School of Management. The leading elements contributing to toxic cultures? Failure to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion, workers feeling disrespected, and unethical behavior. “Toxicity is a byproduct of bad or poor leadership. A company can be toxic because top leadership is toxic, and it permeates to all the divisions and departments within the company,” says Yanira Guzmán, executive resume writer and coach.
How do you know if you are smack in the middle of a toxic environment? Here are 15 signs that signal a toxic workplace and how to address it.
Your toxic workplace checklist: 16 signs the culture is bad for business
1. There’s palpable tension in the office
If you can hear a pin drop in the office all of the time and you’re not working in the library, it could be a sign that this is a toxic environment. If nobody is smiling or seems afraid to speak, something is probably off. “This is a hard issue to spot but it’s definitely a red flag and an indication of a toxic environment. When you’re new or interviewing, be mindful of body language, nonverbal communication, and tones when people are communicating. People will lie with their words, but their body language and tone usually tells the truth, if you’re paying attention,” explains career coach Kandice Whitaker, MBA . “A person may not be in the position to truly influence culture, which is the hardest thing to change in an organization. As a coach, my advice has always been to these individuals to weigh the personal costs of staying and working for change within the organization or leaving, both have consequences.”
2. There’s a lack of communication
If you aren’t getting the necessary information you need to complete projects or fully do your job, there may be a lack of communication from management and your coworkers. Communication is key in any relationship, even in the workplace. The lack of communication in the workplace affects morale, employee engagement, and productivity. The quality of work may even suffer, because employees aren’t clear on what managers are asking of them, or not asking of them. With the sudden move to virtual workplaces because of the pandemic, companies are having to rely on another way to communicate with employees. In 2023, Expert Market reported that 28 percent of employees pointed to poor communication as a reason work was not turned in on time, while 97 percent of employees said communication impacts tasks every day. Harvard Business Review found that 72 percent of employees felt their performance would improve if managers provided corrective feedback. Healthy communication can exist in the workplace if managers do their part. Leaders should explore diverse communication platforms so they can address employees and make sure everyone is on the same page.
3. Turnover is high
One obvious sign of a toxic work environment is the high turnover. If people are leaving in droves every other week, that should signal there is an issue. In a toxic environment, employees, even those who were previously very engaged, may become detached from work, the team, and the company overall. Guzmán says often workers leave companies, even small organizations, because of unrealistic expectations of perfectionism. She suggests doing your due diligence by researching the company before you accept the job. Anonymous company reviews (like here on InHerSight!) or key red flags in job descriptions can unveil hidden, but valuable, information about work environments before you join them.
Read more: A Toxic Workplace Can Be Fixed
4. There’s a cronyism culture
“Cronyism” occurs when management promotes their friends and associates to positions of authority regardless of qualifications. (You might be familiar with “nepotism.” More on that here.) Bypassing high performers at the company and showing favoritism by tapping into a network of friends and former colleagues is a sign of a toxic environment. Leadership can avoid this by promoting growth from within a diverse pool of candidates—and tracking whether that advancement is equitable throughout.
5. There’s a fear of speaking candidly
Often employees can be afraid to speak up because of the backlash that can occur. If they do speak up, there’s the fear of being dismissed and workplace retaliation. “The behavior often shows up when people say ‘oh, that’s just how Davis is, it’s okay, don’t take it personally,’ or ‘I think you misunderstood the situation. You are being too sensitive,’” explains Marisa Wheeling Ciesluk, a certified leadership and executive coach. “If there aren’t policies and procedures in place to address this behavior and hold people accountable for their actions, that’s a major signal that the organizational infrastructure is cracking. The first step to address the problem is to take care of your own mental and emotional wellbeing. Seek out the support you need to process the experience in a place that feels safe.”
Leadership and managers should make time to speak with employees, hold one-on-one meetings regularly, and truly listen to what employees are sharing. This establishes psychological safety, which encourages employees to voice their thoughts, opinions, and concerns.
6. There’s gossip and cliquish behavior
Gossip and cliques in the workplace can feel the same as they did when you were a teenager. It can feel alienating to be on the outside of an active clique, but it’s best to avoid trying to get inside the circle or participating in gossip to feel included. “I recommend being cordial, polite, and friendly, but give no personal information,” Whitaker says. “Also, if you start asking them personal questions that one of two things will happen either they’ll start talking about themselves or they’ll end the conversation, either is a win.”
7. There’s no work-life balance
If your boss is demanding your job comes before your child’s school play, or if you are afraid to take off when sick, then your workplace is toxic. “As a new mom returning to the workplace, I struggled to meet the demands of my job and find time to pump during the workday, and I had to stop because of my work schedule,” says Wheeling Ciesluk. “The basic expectation is that people are on 24/7 365 [days a year.] People are not human doings, they are human beings. Without rest, people do not operate at optimal performance.” She says the best way to avoid burnout is to reclaim your time, health, and life by setting boundaries. “Ask to have a conversation with your manager every time a new task is put on your plate. Ask your manager to help you prioritize what’s on your list. This brings to their attention the workload you are carrying and forces them to either get you more support or resources or downgrade what is of utmost importance right now,” she adds.
Read more: Everything You Need to Know About Leaving a Toxic Workplace
8. There’s no room for mistakes
In certain industries, there are aggressive cultures where there’s no room for errors. If you make a mistake you are ridiculed and blamed, so employees do what they can to avoid getting in trouble. Often, that looks like blaming coworkers when something happens, rather than taking accountability for the mistake. Guzman offers some questions to ask yourself if you feel this might be true for your work environment: “Is accountability a value that is adhered to? Are some individuals held more accountable than others? If so, who are they and/or what roles do they have? Does leadership demonstrate accountability of their own actions?”.
9. There’s no promotion or prioritization of diversity, equity, and inclusion
A lack of diversity in the workplace can unintentionally create a hostile environment and contribute to higher turnover. When employees feel excluded from the culture of the company, they tend to leave. Companies that fail to prioritize DEI through initiatives that promote gender equality, fair promotions and pay, and equal opportunities run the risk of losing some great employees. “In a perfect world, management should take a proactive stance in employee career development. Many don't, which can lead to poor overall morale and toxicity in the workplace,” says Whitaker. Here are 10 questions to ask a prospective employer about their commitment to DEI in the workplace.
10. Employees are burned out
“If you are constantly second guessing or doubting yourself, this may be a sign of burnout,” Wheeling Ciesluk says, adding that while you may not have the ability to change the organizational structure that’s causing the burnout, you can set boundaries for yourself. She also suggests paying attention to your body, including sleep and eating patterns so you don’t end up sick or worse, in the hospital due to stress from burnout. InHerSight contributor Stephanie Olsen covers what it means to reach burnout here.
11. Growth is stifled
Wanting to grow in your career development is the natural progression as you climb up the ladder. But if you are constantly being passed over for a promotion or are constantly being told you don’t have the skills to move to the next level, then your career growth is being stifled. The lack of being able to grow your skills and experience in the workplace is a sign things are toxic. “Many women and people from underrepresented groups are not promoted because of gender modesty norms, cultural expectations and lack of confidence and competence in engaging in self-promotion,” says Wheeling Ciesluk. She suggests hiring a career coach or asking a manager to work on helping you to strategically promote your accomplishments so you can get promoted or hired elsewhere.
12. There’s no trust between management and employees
If your manager is constantly checking to see if you are doing your work—aka constantly micromanaging—that’s a sign of toxicity. A looming boss can affect productivity, morale among the team, and can make you question your own capabilities. You can and should have a conversation with your manager to see if they can give you more freedom to fulfill your job duties.
Read more: Signs of a Toxic Boss and What To Do About Them
13. You’re set up for failure from the start
“If you get a promotion and nothing is taken off your plate and new roles and responsibilities are added, you are most likely set up for failure from day one,” says Wheeling Ciesluk. Or if you just started at the company and no one has given you the tools you need to succeed, then that’s a red flag. Wheeling Ciesluk says the best way to handle this is to simply ask for help before the new workload leads to burnout and is not sustainable.
14. Passive aggressive behavior
Leaders or employees may exhibit passive-aggressive behaviors because of underlying factors like fear and insecurity. Passive aggression is often a trait you may overlook, but some signs may include indirect criticism, implementing unnecessary or confusing directions and rules, avoiding building relationships, or giving vague feedback. Whitaker says take heed if you decide to confront the passive aggressive behavior because those who are exhibiting the behavior are seen as the “nice person.” Speak to your HR representative about the issue instead. And if it’s a leader or manager who’s exhibiting such behavior, consider making a clean exit.
15. There’s a culture of sexual harassment
Unfortunately, as many as eight in 10 women will experience sexual harassment in the workplace at some point. Harassment can include "sexual harassment" or unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature. If it's acceptable in the company with no consequences, that’s a toxic sign and it’s illegal.
16. Discrimination and verbal abuse
Discrimination and bullying are often cut from the same cloth, though one is illegal and the other is not. Both are toxic.“If you experience discrimination or verbal abuse as I have, your best response is no response,” Whitaker says. “Keep your cool and do not react, as inaction more than likely will render your advisory powerless. Additionally, if you respond, more than likely the story will unfold beginning with your reaction, not the impetus.”
If you notice these issues in the workplace, document everything in detail, and bring the issues to the attention of your supervisor or to the HR department. InHerSight’s guide to addressing and reporting discrimination in the workplace walks you through everything here.
