Top 7 Signs Of A Toxic Work Environment And How To Handle It

The work environment sets the tone for how employees feel at work.

Some traits of a healthy workplace are structured processes, engaged leadership, effective communication, and career development opportunities.

At the other end of the spectrum are toxic work environments that thrive on poor communication, ineffective management, and drama.

It’s essential to spot the early signs of a toxic workplace. For leaders, it means taking timely action and containing toxic behavior. For employees, it’s about reacting accordingly (even if it means leaving an organization) to preserve their emotional and mental stability.

So, let’s define a toxic work environment and look at its most common red flags.

What is a toxic work environment?

A toxic work environment is shaped by toxic behaviors, such as bad-mouthing, discrimination, and micromanagement. When these behaviors become prevalent, they define the organizational culture and can impact how people work, communicate, and feel at their workplace.

What are the signs of a toxic workplace?

There are many signs of a toxic workplace, and it is virtually impossible to list them all. But warning signs don’t happen in isolation. You’ll probably notice several at once if you’re working in a toxic environment.

We’ve spoken to several professionals who have experienced toxic work environments and identified the seven most common signs to look for.

Toxic workplace sign #1: High employee turnover

High employee turnover occurs when employees leave a company at a rate higher than industry norms. It’s a strong indicator of a toxic work environment, where employees may feel that leaving the company is the only solution to escape that unhealthy work culture.

Alternatively, it could also suggest that the company is letting go of employees for trivial reasons, which can create a culture of fear and insecurity among the remaining employees.

High turnover can negatively impact employee morale in several ways. For example, losing friends at work can create a sense of isolation, and employees might need to take on a higher workload to compensate for their departing colleagues.

Turnover is monitored over some time – month, quarter, or year. To calculate it, divide the number of departing employees by the average number of employees for a period. Then, multiply by 100.

The average across all industries is 10.6%, but some occupations (retail, accounting, entertainment, etc.) traditionally have higher turnover rates.

How to handle this situation:

High turnover is an early warning sign of a toxic environment. If your company’s turnover is alarmingly high for your industry, look out for other signs from this list.

Toxic workplace sign #2: Poor or missing onboarding process

Onboarding introduces new employees to the company’s vision, culture, and processes. New hires also learn about their role at the organization and expectations from their role. Using onboarding software allows companies to provide a structured orientation process. Failing to do so might leave employees feeling lost and undervalued.

When a company neglects the onboarding process, it often reflects a broader disregard for employee development and well-being. This lack of structure can lead to confusion about job responsibilities, difficulty understanding company policies, and challenges in integrating with the team.

Here’s what Content Manager Mia Jo remembers from her time at a company that skipped the onboarding process:

“It felt like being thrown into the fire from day one. They expected me to read their minds. I was constantly fixing things, feeling stressed and like my work was worthless.”

How to handle this situation:

If your employer is skipping onboarding or other essential training, speak to your department head or HR. If you’re unsure who to talk to, look at the company’s organizational chart to understand the hierarchy and roles. It’s challenging to succeed at a job when you lack a basic understanding of how things work at the company.

Toxic workplace sign #3: Bad leadership

Leaders set the tone for the company’s culture, values, and ethical standards. Poor leaders can have a detrimental impact on all teams, ultimately undermining the organization’s success.

Poor leadership often manifests as a lack of clear communication, absence of support for team members, favoritism, and a failure to provide constructive feedback. Leaders who are disengaged, unapproachable, or inconsistent in their decisions create an atmosphere of uncertainty and mistrust among their employees.

Content Consultant Angelina Popovic says micromanagement is another common behavior of toxic leaders.

“Sometimes, leaders become excessively attached to their work. They believe that closely monitoring each step will reduce the chance of failure. This constant need for approval at every step leads to more paperwork. Instead of improving efficiency, it slows down the process and undermines the confidence and morale of employees.”

How to handle this situation:

Approach the toxic leader directly and try to set your boundaries. Use “I” statements so it doesn’t sound like you’re accusing them. Instead of pointing out only what is not working well, provide alternatives. For example, you could say, “I would like to receive regular and specific feedback.” Also, don’t badmouth the person in front of other colleagues.

Toxic workplace sign #4: Lack of growth opportunities

Growth opportunities stimulate employees to give their best at work – not just for the company’s sake but because they’re building their careers and growing their skill sets. Organizations that fail to provide development opportunities might face disengagement and complacency from their workforce.

Without the motivation to innovate or take the initiative, employees may become less productive and satisfied, declining their performance and contribution to the organization.

A healthy work environment understands the value of human capital and continuously invests in growing it. Some ways to support employees’ career progression include promotions, job transfers, internal and external training, and mentorship programs.

How to handle this situation:

Communicate with your superiors your commitment to growth and the direction you’d like to take. Even if there are no immediate growth opportunities, a good leader can use this information to support your development.

Toxic workplace sign #5: Everyone is stressed or burned out

People often get a gut feeling about a toxic workplace, although it might be challenging to sense it in an online work environment. One big red flag is when employees feel chronically stressed or burned out. It often points to a workplace with constant fear of failure, huge workloads, and unrealistic deadlines.

A toxic work environment also disregards employees’ mental health, impacting their ability to perform at work. When the pressure becomes unbearable, employees’ work-related stress spills into their personal lives, affecting their work-life balance, relationships, and overall quality of life.

Content Writer Frances Ajewole describes how a toxic workplace feels:

“The very thought of working every day filled me with such despair and disdain, I could no longer function properly and had to leave for my mental health.”

The data on how employees feel at work is quite concerning – 41% say they’re currently experiencing burnout. In comparison, 39% get the Sunday scaries (feelings of anxiety or even dread about going back to work).

How to handle this situation:

Make an effort to separate your work and personal life. To achieve this, you may need to remove work communication channels from your phone, consistently leave work on time, and set clear boundaries. If, despite your best efforts, your toxic work environment is compromising your mental health, it is time to plan your exit strategy.

Toxic workplace sign #6: Bad-mouthing and gossip

Gossip involves the spread of rumors and speculations that can harm reputations, fuel misunderstandings, and create drama and divisions among employees. When a company’s management tolerates or diffuses gossip, it indicates a deeper problem with sharing information and resolving conflicts.

The occasional comments between colleagues are unavoidable, but they can quickly escalate and hurt people on the team. Digital Marketer Sarah Chaya Presch says rumors ruined her reputation at a previous company. At some point, these rumors “started bringing my disability into things, and I was accused of not having a real autism diagnosis.” 

Look out for cases when senior company employees start rumors or gossip. When leaders engage in such toxic behavior, it erodes trust and respect while legitimizing others to do the same. Growth Advisor Ilia Markov had such an experience early on in his career. His employer at the time was running an anonymous employee satisfaction survey. Ilia later discovered that “the survey wasn’t anonymous, and the CEO was going through replies to check who said particular things.”

How to handle this situation:

Stay away from colleagues who spread rumors and gossip. Avoid engaging in conversations about others or sharing personal information with them. If someone is spreading rumors about you – speak to them directly and let them know you don’t appreciate their behavior and want them to stop.

Toxic workplace sign #7: Lack of respect for employees and their opinions

A healthy workplace takes the time to understand employees’ concerns and suggestions. It can do this by holding feedback meetings, conducting exit interviews, and running different types of surveys. Lack of respect for employees is a sure sign of a toxic work environment. It can take many forms, such as discrimination, harassment, bullying, shaming, or gaslighting.

These behaviors destroy collaboration and trust and damage employees’ emotional and mental well-being. People working in such toxic workplace culture often fear being the next target. They hesitate to speak up while looking for ways to avoid the workplace or leave.

Inés Luján, a communications specialist, shares her experience working at an office. When employees complained, they were told to “go out on the terrace for 5 minutes,” gaslighting them that their perceptions were unimportant or based on a momentary emotion.

Off-page SEO Specialist Amit Raj used to work at a company where senior managers regularly bullied other employees.

“At first, I was targeted, but over time, bullies realize when to move on and will target new people. However, the longer it goes unchecked, the more a company starts normalizing this toxic behavior and culture.”

How to handle this situation:

Address the issue with your direct manager, department head, or HR. However, if these behaviors are prevalent, severe, or not taken seriously by senior management, consider leaving the toxic environment. When a case is with a toxic person or team, you can solve the problem by changing departments. But if it’s a company-wide practice, you must look for a different organization.

Dealing with a toxic work environment

Toxic workplaces can have many things in common. But organizations, leaders, and situations differ. That’s why there’s no single best approach to handling a hostile work environment.

The best way to deal with a toxic workplace is prevention. During the application and hiring process, do your research about the company. How long have employees been with the company? Does the organization have any Glassdoor reviews? Could you ask some questions during the job interview that might reveal a toxic culture?

In all cases, you have to prioritize your well-being. Sometimes, this involves a short-term sacrifice (say, having no job) for a long-term gain (protecting your health and finding a better workplace).

Another point to consider is your career and personal development. Does your toxic job help you get to where you want to be? If not, your decision will be easier. If yes, you still need to think about your mental and physical health because no job is worth your well-being.