The Harvard Business Review has a few horror stories about the nature of toxic workplaces, and some ways to spot red flags before you join such an organization.
“In a recent FlexJobs survey of 2,600 American workers, 42% of respondents said they were seriously considering quitting their jobs, and 20% said they had quit recently. A toxic workplace culture was the number-three reason workers gave for wanting to quit. And the American Psychological Association’s 2023 Work in America workforce survey found that 22% of employees said their work environment has “harmed their mental health.” Finally, research shows that the repetitive stress from abuse in the workplace can even lead to physical health issues like heart disease and cancer.”
“When you’re working in a toxic workplace, the signs might be fairly easy to recognize: yelling and bullying, lots of gossip, and unsustainable workloads are a few common hallmarks. In a recent study, researchers looked through more than 1.3 million Glassdoor reviews and identified five attributes of a toxic corporate culture. They’re:
- disrespectful,
- non-inclusive,
- unethical,
- cutthroat,
- abusive.”
The toxic effects on an individual employee could range from trauma symptoms (freezing, fauning, fight or flight), to resentment, anger, de-motivation, absenteeism. The Company Chaplain offers support for employees experiencing any of these harms. Contact us to schedule a session with a board certified spiritual care specialist. We will listen compassionately, explore the injury you suffered with empathy, assist you in reconnecting with your strengths and make a plan of care to support you going forward.