What is a toxic work culture?
Toxic work culture is an environment at work resulting from constant conflict, unethical conduct, and hostile peer relationships. A workplace of this sort is termed as a toxic workplace and hampers an employee’s well-being, motivation to work and be productive.The definition of a toxic workplace might vary from person to person, but the aspects mentioned above are a part of most definitions. When met with toxicity on an everyday basis, employees will find it convenient to switch to a different organization.Not to be confused with:
Quid pro quo sexual harassment
Quid pro quo sexual harassment refers to instances where employees are asked for sexual favors in return for favorable developments at the workplace.
Not to be confused with:
What are the factors that contribute to a toxic workplace?
1. Chronic StressWhen your workplace stresses out employees and causes a work-life imbalance, it’s a clear indication that the work culture has become toxic.2. Overworked employeesOverworked employees are more prone to making mistakes, bad decisions, and inefficient communication. Organisations that celebrate the overworked culture, often negatively affect the emotional and psychological competencies of their employees. It is common for overworked employees to feel anxious and vexed towards their employer, in turn leading to toxicity in professional relationships.3. BulliesBullying is a big deterrent in creating workplace harmony. Often unaddressed and unnoticed, it scares employees, threatens them, and is a significant contributor to toxicity at the workplace.4. Gossip cultureWhile water cooler banter is cool, mindless gossiping can create unwanted rumours and potentially hurt sentiments. A work environment that is ripe with gossip affects peer relationships, contributes to an overall negative vibe, and makes the workplace toxic.5. Immature senior managementMoody and immature senior management can be intolerable for the workforce. Bosses mustn’t contribute to toxicity in the workplace by hurting the self-esteem of the workers, as this can lower their confidence and motivation to deliver.
