Toxic Culture In The Workplace. A Myth or A Reality?

In the diverse multiverse (pun intended) of employment, there exists an unfortunate reality; toxic workplaces. These environments can wreak havoc on employees’ well-being, productivity and overall satisfaction. Don’t be shocked. Toxic culture is not only Nigeria thing because it rear its ugly head in some Fortune 500 organizations but most of the cases is not reported from the fear of sanctions like suspension, peer-group tongue lashes, dismissal and so on.

But what exactly constitutes a toxic workplace and how can organizations address and rectify such damaging cultures?

A toxic work culture is one where the workplace is plagued by fighting, drama and unhappy employees to the point of productivity and the well-being of the people in the workplace is affected.
A toxic workplace is not just a challenging or stressful environment it’s a place where negativity, toxicity, and dysfunction are the norm rather than the exception.

What makes a workplace toxic? According to Business Psychologist Clive Lewis, there are three things at play, which is called ‘toxic triad’. The first is the employee and the willingness to recognise how their behaviour may have contributed; the second is the line manager and the importance of them being competent; the third is organizational systems, such as grievance procedure and performance appraisals. You could have just one of these elements making an environment toxic, but of course, at the worse, if all three of these things are in play, it will have an impact on organizational culture.

How To Know If You’re in a Toxic Workplace:

Generally, businesses will see sickness absence going up and a high level of an anxiety. Projects are either not delivered or late and running over budget. At a higher level, you could see slow and bureaucratic decision making. Staff might even be punished for mistake rather than learning from them. In worse cases scenarios, this can spill over into the customer experience. Work is something that gives us a sense of purpose and meaning, so when it become a toxic environment it can be heartbreaking. So, how do you decode these things where you work?

–Poor Communication: When communication breaks down or becomes hostile, it creates an atmosphere of distrust and confusion.
–Lack of Transparency: Employees feel left in the dark about important decisions, leading to feelings of resentment and disengagement.
–Micromanagement: Constant scrutiny and control over employees’ work can stifle creativity and autonomy.
–High Turnover Rates: A revolving door of employees suggests underlying issues that need to be addressed.
–Bullying or Harassment: Any form of harassment or bullying, whether it’s verbal, physical, or emotional, is a clear sign of a toxic culture.
Toxic culture is not restricted to the boss alone because the toxicity can be experience also the employee-employee relationship.

How can organization fix a toxic culture? It’s important to ensure there are clear cut communication channels and information flows upwards as well as sideways through feedback discussions and appraisal systems. Businesses can also ensure the right amounts of resources are available; for example, adequate meeting rooms, and space for people to have private conversation. They should also listen to and learn from exit interviews and demonstrate behaviour consistent with the culture they would like to see in their workplace.

Let’s hear from you. How do you deal with a toxic work environment? Do you up and leave or just look for a coping mechanism?