Like with any relationship, sometimes it’s hard to spot a toxic workplace in the moment. You’re too close to the situation. That’s why having benchmarks to look out for can help you escape a noxious and harmful career sinkhole.
So much depends on your workplace. Because of the time you devote to your job, your life tends to revolve around what happens there. Your livelihood, your sense of worth, your mental health — to one degree or another, these are all influenced by your experience at work.
Unfortunately, a sizable number of professionals toil away in unpleasant situations. One study found that about one in every five workers have left a job in the past five years because they found the environment toxic.
To avoid wasting any more time than necessary in poisonous situations, here are some red flags to look for to tell if you’re in a toxic workplace:
Signs Your Job Is Toxic For You
You Hate Going to Work
You don’t need to skip into work every morning with a broad grin on your face. Any job can become a grind sometimes. But you should get some joy and satisfaction out of your 9 to 5.
If you truly dread heading to work each day, you might need to escape the toxic environment. Annoyances, frustrations, and a sense you’d rather be on a beach somewhere — these conditions can pop up in any position. But a real hatred of your job should throw up a major red flag.
Office Politics Have Taken Over
Ideally, relations with your coworkers are friendly and cooperative. However, some organizations have trouble promoting constructive competition and an air of collaboration. Instead, dynamics within the company push people into cliques and foster unhealthy levels of rivalry.
This Darwinian struggle contributes to stress and undermines long-term potential. An aggressive amount of office politics can overwhelm a workplace. Suddenly, everything becomes about corporate climbing, rather than helping clients or driving innovation.
Your Coworkers Leave in Droves
You know what happens when you’re the last person off a sinking ship? It means you might not fit in the lifeboat.
If you’re employer has trouble holding top talent, it doesn’t bode well for its prospects or its culture. High turnover points to a broken organization. This can be hard to read in the current environment — the Great Resignation has many companies experiencing an elevated number of departures. But a constant push towards the exits might signal it’s your time to leave too.
Management Decisions Never Make Sense to You
To a certain extent, your career development is tied to the progress of your employer. If they succeed, you have a better chance of getting ahead. As such, you need to trust that management will steer the firm into a bright future. Without this confidence, you should start considering other opportunities.
Your Mood Has Darkened
The bright-eyed, enthusiastic newbie who bounded into their first day of work has disappeared. Now, you’re a scowling, cynical drone just trying to get through the day.
This transition points to a deeper problem. It’s not that you’ve naturally grown misanthropic since you were hired. Rather, the job has weighed on your mood.
People Keep Telling You That Your Job Is Toxic
Sometimes, you can’t see it yourself. Like a bad romantic relationship, you get too close to the situation to realize how harmful it is. In those cases, trust your support system. Listen to your loved ones when they tell you that your job has become a negative influence on your life.
You Develop Physical Symptoms
Eventually, mental strain will begin to affect you physically. A toxic workplace can begin to take a toll on your body. Look out for signs that your unpleasant job is starting to impact your health.
Here are a few symptoms to watch out for:
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Stomach problems
- Trouble sleeping
- Panic attacks
- Muscle soreness
You Deserve Better! Get Connected to Florida’s Top Opportunities
If you find yourself in a toxic workplace, do what you can to escape quickly. A top staffing firm, like Hiregy, can help. You’ll find the welcoming and constructive culture you need to drive your career to new heights.
Contact Hiregy today to find the ideal workplace for you.
