There will come a time in one’s working history where it seems that going to work is more of a struggle than a part of their livelihood. Feelings of  drowsiness, physical pains induced by stress, and overall anxiousness when in and out of work are some of the symptoms that yield to a phenomenon that is common, yet, difficult to identify. This would be of course a toxic work environment. Many may question as to what exactly describes that setting, how to cope and manage within it as a worker, and how to keep composure or find a resolution. Afterall, when factoring how much of an integral part a persons occupation is in terms of their life, this is a very important issue that needs to be assessed, analyzed, and managed in a manner that benefits most, if not all parties involved.

A Breakdown of A Toxic Work Environment

It is very common to start second guessing yourself when you are in the process of attempting to identify whether your work setting is toxic or not based on how it is affecting you and your personal performance. We often feel as though it is a problem with ourselves and not the external influences of our setting, which, is just part of our human nature. Toxic work environments are very impactful on our self esteem as they are rooted in a stressful setting where the individual does not feel comfortable, often cannot reach for help, starts feeling insecure and doubtful about themselves, and overall has issues with aiding these difficulties in the workplace setting. In terms of more specific components that define a toxic or negative work environment, there are many external and internal aspects that contribute to the problematic nature of the setting such as:

Lack of Communication and Support

With any relationship and network of individuals, a sense of communication is a key to keeping connected and relaying information in a constructive and efficient manner. Having a strong communication network within your workspace is also very necessary to make sure that there is support should a problem arise. In working environments where there is no communication and more of a passive-aggressive nature of exchange between employees there is a risk for a possible toxic environment. Other tell-tale signs of a problematic work setting include dismissal of requests, lack of attention to questions, many miscommunication errors, and even refusal from subordinates or counterparts to make necessary health accommodations. These can often be seen in actions as well such as your boss deciding to assign you to a new project without notifying you or your workers consistently leaving you out of important work conversations.

Constant Workplace Drama and Slander

A very large indicator that there is a problematic nature in your job is when there are often negative conversations and rumors going around about the people you work with. We all may have disagreements here and there, however, when there is a constant use of degrading language and instances of others fighting with one another it can create tension and an uncomfortable setting for even those who are not involved as they may feel intimidated when working with someone they have heard awful rumors about. Blatant examples include hearing your superior speak harshly and spread lies about their counterpart in small group meetings or having two employees of yours refuse to work with one another on an assignment because of an argument.

Insensitivity to Cultural Practices & Health Issues

In a progressive day and age such as the one we are living in, it is important to remember that everyone operates differently and that it is okay to have different practices and work ethics based on a cultural background as well as necessary to maintain your health in every aspect and relay these concerns to your employer or employees. Most places of work allow for sensitivity trainings to ensure that everyone is on the same page as far as being considerate and understanding of individual needs and expectations, however, this may not always be the case. In harsher work environments, these genuine concerns are very much overlooked or not paid any attention to at all. A more severe case would be if someone was denied work leave for personal health reasons for no reason because of their condition, but more common instances would be if someone submitted an absence request and it was completely ignored or if a worker was wearing a culturally associated clothing item and received unfair treatment as a result with no further action taken.

When evaluating all the factors that play into identifying a toxic work environment as well as the obvious and hidden signs and of course your own personal feelings and attitudes towards the matter, there still begs the question as to how can you manage dysfunction while still retaining a job and how can you work towards growth rather than regression. There are multiple ways to do this, as for many financial instability is not desirable and there is already stress and anxiousness within the situation at hand.

Those methods include:

Initiating Communication Methods

It may seem tedious, but introducing faster and modernized methods of communication such as group chats, notification scheduling apps, or emailing apps may inspire motivation for those to communicate what is needed as soon as possible rather than having to set aside time for a meeting or to draft an email. It is also important to ensure that all voices are heard, and sometimes taking the first step by being transparent and listing what is positive and negative in the workspace personally and professionally is necessary to strengthen a workplace community.

Anonymous Reporting and Evasion

When it comes to work-related issues such as drama or intense conflict between employees, the best thing to do is to steer clear as even just hearing negative words or seeing someone be excluded can project negativity on to you. Surround yourself with coworkers who are focused on the job at hand and refrain from speaking badly about others, and if possible, inquire about anonymous reporting where you can hold others accountable for their actions and create a safe space for everyone. Afterall, at the end of the day it is just a job and it is okay to have to give yourself distance from the negativity and focus on the positive aspects that greatly influence yourself.

Handling the responsibilities of a position at work can be stressful all on its own, when adding an uncomfortable workplace as a factor, this only creates more negativity personally and professionally. While we may not have all the answers, we can very much try to do the best for ourselves in these situations by assessing, analyzing, and taking action to create an environment that is enjoyable for all.