Do you have a gut feeling that your work is negatively affecting your mental health? If the answer is yes, it’s worth taking some time to reflect on what you’re noticing and learn about toxic workplace cultures.
In many cases, managers and leaders will use their place in the hierarchy to excuse controlling or abusive behavior. You may feel like you never receive the communication or the support you need to get your job done.
At the same time, you may feel like you’re being monitored excessively, or like people don’t trust you to take care of your responsibilities. You may not receive much recognition, if at all, and there may be a “revolving door” of high turnover.
Sounding familiar? Sometimes, there are ways to protect your peace and cope with a toxic work environment. You’ve got to know your limits and recognize when things have gone too far. In this article, we’ll share seven red flags to look for that may tell you you’re dealing with a toxic workplace.
7 red flags of a toxic workplace
To some extent, stress and urgency are a part of working in even the most laid-back environments. If you’re passionate about what you do and you want to be successful, it’s normal to feel a bit of pressure. The right amount of stress can help you stay focused and do your best. However, there’s a major difference between good stress and toxic stress.
Instead of being motivated by shared values, serving others, or a job well done, toxic stress often comes from fear and anxiety or unchecked ego and an unhealthy level of competition. These patterns often start with upper-level management, but they can make their way to everyone else rather quickly.
Toxic behavior exists on a spectrum — it’s not as cut and dry as “toxic” or “non-toxic.” If you’ve recognized a couple of these red flags, there’s a good chance your workplace is toxic to some degree. More red flags likely indicate a more toxic culture, including:
Constant anxiety about work
Do you find yourself worrying about things going wrong on a weekly or daily basis? Or do you get the “Sunday scaries?” That’s when the distractions of the weekend pass and you start to dread going back to work Monday morning.
In a toxic work environment, you may experience both emotional and physical symptoms of anxiety. For instance, you might notice changes in appetite, indigestion, quivering or sweating.
Lack of boundaries and expectation of constant availability
Is your supervisor always checking on you to make sure you’re doing things right or working fast enough? Do you get urgent emails in the evenings, or do they expect you to drop what you’re doing to take care of other things? Sometimes, a “fast-paced environment” can be code for impossible expectations and toxicity.
Bullying, harassment or intimidation
Workplace bullying isn’t always obvious. It can come in the form of impatience, scare tactics or feedback with an overly critical tone. This is where the power dynamics come into play. Managers or higher-ups may also gaslight you by contradicting you and making you doubt yourself, especially in front of clients or other people. Gaslighting is a form of psychological manipulation in which a person or group causes someone to question their own memory, perception or judgment — often to gain power or control.
Lack of recognition or growth opportunities
In a healthy workplace, employees receive recognition for their work so they feel appreciated. This should apply to everyone, and opportunities for advancement should be offered in a democratic way.
If you rarely get so much as a “thank you” or if you never receive recognition at all, you may be in a toxic workplace. Favoritism and exploitation of lower-level employees are also traits of toxic cultures.
Poor communication and lack of transparency
Poor communication can be due to negligence or a lack of skills. It can also be more deliberate. It’s not always a lack of communication that’s the problem, although withholding information can be a sign of toxicity. Sometimes, it’s a matter of unclear expectations.
People may also have problematic communication styles. Passive-aggression, defensiveness and giving the “silent treatment” are a few examples to look out for.
High turnover rates
There are good reasons why people don’t stick around in toxic workplaces. High turnover isn’t just an outcome of toxic work environments. It also causes increased stress for the remaining employees.
You could ask supervisors why they think the company doesn’t seem to be attracting people who are a good fit. If it seems appropriate, you could also ask about common reasons for leaving or whether departed employees had any feedback to share with the team.
Impact on physical and mental health
The team’s health and well-being should be a priority for your employer. If you’re constantly hovering close to burnout, or if you feel your workplace is negatively affecting your health, something needs to change. Losing sleep, changes in appetite and persistent low moods are all important signs to pay attention to.
Take some time to focus on your mental health and recover from a toxic workplace at Lightfully
Recognizing the red flags in a toxic workplace can help you keep things in perspective and set boundaries to protect your mental well-being. It can also help you determine what you can cope with and when it’s time to seek a new opportunity.
Sometimes, fostering supportive relationships with your co-workers can make things more bearable. If you have some authority, you may be able to set a more uplifting tone with your team. You can also try some different coping skills and see what works for you.
If you have anxiety during the day or depression that sticks around in your evenings and weekends, you may benefit from seeking mental health treatment. At Lightfully, we provide treatment for the whole person. That means we help you work toward creating the life you want to live and care for yourself more proactively.
We create a personalized treatment plan for each client using our Precision Care Model (PCM). We combine evidence-based therapies to help you manage four core processes: your thoughts, feelings, behaviors and relationships.
A healthy workplace challenges you to grow while supporting your well-being. A toxic workplace depletes your resources and leaves you questioning your worth and capabilities. It’s up to you to recognize the signs and make a change.
Do you need help recovering from a toxic workplace? We can help. Contact us with questions about treatment or reach out to our Admissions Concierge Team.
