TOXIC WORK ENVIRONMENT: CHARACTERISTICS, CONSEQUENCES, PREVENTION - JOB - 2024

A toxic work environment is known as a work environment that is marked by personal problems between its different members, where drama, fights and other conflicts interfere with the productivity of employees. They generally produce all kinds of negative consequences among the people who are involved in them.

These types of work environments are usually generated as a consequence of the presence of toxic people; that is, individuals who seek personal gain (such as power, money, fame, or a specific status) regardless of what they have to do to achieve it.

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The topic of toxic work environments is being studied more and more in all types of environments, since it is believed that it can be at the base of very serious problems at work. For example, various investigations suggest that this type of environment can be one of the main causes of workplace harassment or violence in the company.

In this article we will see what are the main characteristics of a toxic work environment, as well as the most common consequences that occur due to them, and what an individual can do to avoid the worst of them.

characteristics

Workers avoid attracting attention

The first symptom of a toxic work environment is the presence of an environment in which punishments abound. Workers in such a situation quickly learn that if they stand out in any way (for example, by making a suggestion or criticism, or by making a mistake), they will be attacked or punished.

The feeling that employees have in these types of environments is that they should just shut up and continue working without asking questions.

This generally leads to problems such as demotivation, lack of creativity, and increased stress, as workers never know when they will receive the next punishment.

Bad communication

Another of the most important characteristics of a toxic work environment is that workers feel that there is a constant lack of communication that prevents them from improving and knowing exactly what they have to do. Normally, the feedback they receive is non-existent, with the exception of the criticisms mentioned previously.

In one of these work environments, employees typically don't feel heard at all. In the most serious cases, bosses or even other workers may take credit for what other people have done. This is one of the clearest signs of a toxic work environment.

Negative attitudes

Going to work day after day may not be the most motivating activity in the world; But when all employees are sad, stressed or angry with their environment, chances are there is some level of toxicity in the work environment.

In the most serious cases, it is common to see how more and more workers begin to develop symptoms of emotional problems, such as burnout syndrome or depression.

Furthermore, it is not uncommon for the number of sick leave to increase, and for more and more employees to resign to escape the toxic environment.

Constant drama presence

A toxic work environment can in many ways resemble a high school class. Rather than focus on their tasks, employees who favor creating this environment engage in criticizing others, spreading rumors about them, and insanely encouraging competition.

This usually leads to all kinds of fights, misunderstandings and conflicts between different workers. Because of this, employees spend more time arguing with each other, seeking allies, and complaining about their colleagues than actually attending to their tasks.

Difficulty getting results

In a toxic work environment, none of the company's goals appear to be being adequately met. Workers are not entirely clear on what to do or the best way to achieve it; and bosses are more concerned with their own problems than with providing clear leadership.

In these settings, for example, team meetings are often useless. Instead of proposing solutions and developing action plans, all kinds of personal conflicts and wars appear. In addition, it is also frequent that new rules and regulations are constantly added that add even more confusion to the environment.

Lack of concern for the welfare of workers

Finally, in a toxic work environment, workers, their problems and concerns are not taken into account. The only thing that matters is to achieve the objectives of the bosses or the company; and therefore, employees are expected to sacrifice their well-being and personal life for the good of their company.

Some of the most obvious symptoms of this characteristic are the lack of vacations, the requirement that workers do unpaid “overtime”, or the need to be on the phone 24 hours a day in case of an emergency.

If an employee decides to stick to the tasks specified in his contract, both his bosses and his colleagues will jump on him and pressure him to work more. Normally a fierce competition appears between the members of the company, and the empathy between them disappears completely.

Consequences

Lack of motivation

Employees who are immersed in a toxic work environment often report feeling unmotivated and lacking in energy to perform their tasks.

Job impediments, constant drama and conflict between workers often take a toll on the mood of even the toughest workers.

As a consequence, productivity in the company tends to decrease. Workers feel less involved with their responsibilities, and begin to make only the minimum effort required to avoid problems with their superiors. This, in turn, reinforces the lack of motivation, in a negative spiral that is very difficult to break.

Lack of results

When both bosses and workers are more concerned with their own personal problems than with company goals, it becomes increasingly difficult to achieve the desired results. Depending on the type of company in which this occurs, the results can be more or less serious.

If the toxic work environment occurs in a small part of a large company, the main problem will be the discomfort felt by the workers who are immersed in it.

On the contrary, for a business that is not too big or that is just starting, these difficulties can lead to the appearance of very serious financial problems.

Workplace harassment and violence

Several studies suggest that the presence of a toxic work environment could be at the base of more serious problems such as workplace harassment (also known as mobbing) and violence in the workplace.

When one of these environments occurs, competitiveness increases exponentially. Because of this, some workers will not hesitate to use whatever method is necessary to stand out from the rest.

In the most extreme cases, this will imply that they will try to destroy their competitors emotionally, or will even resort to physical threats. The work environment then becomes a battlefield, which worsens all other consequences and negatively affects the well-being of employees.

Generation of personal problems

Perhaps the most worrying consequence of a toxic work environment is the appearance of problems that affect employees not only in their workplace, but also in their personal lives. Being immersed in this type of environment can seriously harm people's psychological well-being in a number of ways.

The most common consequence of this type is the appearance of chronic stress, also known as burnout. People who suffer from it feel lack of energy, lose interest in what they used to like, their health suffers and in general their mood seriously worsens.

In more serious cases, staying in a toxic work environment for a long time can lead to more serious psychological problems. The two most common are anxiety and depression, which are among the most frequently mentioned reasons for requesting leave today.

How to avoid it?

Completely eliminating a toxic work environment can be extremely complicated, and often does not depend on a single person but on a common effort among all those who are immersed in it. In most cases, it is usually unrealistic to expect all problems to be fixed.

However, the latest research suggests that it is possible to avoid the most negative consequences produced by this type of environment individually.

Actions such as distancing yourself from the most toxic people in the environment, practicing relaxation, or cognitive therapy can help alleviate its most harmful effects.

Finally, on many occasions it may be necessary to consider the possibility of leaving a toxic work environment and looking for a new job.

Finding a new job can be tricky; But when our physical and mental health are at stake, it is often not worth staying long in a harmful environment.

References

1. "The 5 Warning Signs of a Toxic Work Environment" in: Psychology Today. Retrieved on: November 29, 2018 from Psychology Today: psychologytoday.com.
2. "It's Not You – It's Your Job: 7 Signs of a Toxic Workplace" in: Medium. Retrieved on: November 29, 2018 from Medium: medium.com.
3. "5 Signs of a Toxic Workplace That Should Be Stopped Immediately" in: Inc. Retrieved on: November 29, 2018 from Inc: inc.com.
4. "How a Toxic Work Environment Affects Your Mental Health" in: Very Well Mind. Retrieved on: November 29, 2018 from Very Well Mind: verywellmind.com.
5. "Toxic workplace" in: Wikipedia. Retrieved on: November 29, 2018 from Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org.