Dear It’s Not Britney, 

This topic is the elephant in the room, right? Toxic work environments suck, and I should know – I have been in a few and it isn’t fun. I wish I would have taken a step back and really evaluated the environment, what my role was, and planned a well-thought-out exit strategy, instead of staying thinking I could make it better – or that I was beholden to the company as a loyal employee.  

Lessons learned, and definitely a win for you because now I get to pass this knowledge on to you.

Here is a great checklist to determine if you are in a toxic environment:

#1 Anxiety and stress

I’m not saying every single day at your job is going to be a cakewalk. I’m not psychic, but I promise that you’ll have bad days. Now, if you start having breakdowns in your car before walking into the office, or if you find your palms getting sweaty before you log in to work in the morning, that’s a sign that something is wrong. It can be challenging to gauge our own stress, but this awesome quiz from Cigna can give you an honest gauge of where your stress levels are.

#2 Bullying and aggression

Bullying doesn’t stop in grade school. Unfortunately, some grownups still feel bigger by making others feel small. The Workplace Bullying Institute defines bullying as “repeated mistreatment of an employee by one or more employees; abusive conduct that is threatening, humiliating, or intimidating; work sabotage; or verbal abuse.” While 61% of bullies are bosses, 33% of bullies are peers with the same rank as their targets, and a surprising 6% of bullies are subordinates, according to a survey by the Workplace Bullying Institute.

#3 Gossip

Office gossip is amazing (said no one ever). The next time you hear someone say, “Did you hear…” do yourself a favor and exit the conversation. It doesn’t matter if you’re the gossiper or the gossip-ee, rumor spreading is fertilizer to a toxic work environment. 

Now, if you determine that your workplace is toxic, your next question is probably what the hell to do about it? 

There are really two options – confront the issue or start looking for a new job. 

If you want to deal with the problems head on, you should first decide if the issue is significant enough to bring up to HR or your manager. If you really don’t feel safe addressing it alone, bringing on another person is a good idea. 

If that seems a bit drastic, you can always take it on solo. Check out this amazing Harvard Professional Development blog that outlines three strategies to nailing co-worker conflict resolution. The summary is to send an invitation that show empathy, to meet in a neutral location, and to listen. It’s worth the read. 

And, if there is no light at the end of the tunnel, that’s a sign to start looking for a new job. If you’re in the IT field, reach out to me, and I’d love to help you find your next opportunity. If IT isn’t your thing, Indeed, LinkedIn, and ZipRecruiter are all awesome sites to get started. 

Almost everyone I know has worked in a toxic workplace at some point in their career. The good news is that most workplaces are great, and once you get out of a toxic culture, you’ll know the warning signs and have the tools to handle the situation. 

Sincerely,
Jenny