Workplace culture is such a common concept now in the United States that it can still be bewildering when a workplace goes toxic. Everyone knows the kinds of things that need to happen to keep a happy, productive workforce on their toes, so why would any company fail to supply that groundwork? The answer seems to be that toxic culture is an insidious, organic force that sneaks in opportunistically like an infection in the human body. We all know that sneezing and coughing are symptoms of a common cold, so what are the recognizable symptoms of a workplace culture that’s under the weather? Let’s take a look at ten surefire signs.
1) Gossip– Lines of communication should be open and clear in the workplace. When news instead travels via “the devil’s radio” (as George Harrison called it in a song about loose tongues), it’s a sure sign that rot is beginning to set in the culture in question. Happy and satisfied employees do not need to gossip, as their workplaces tend to be those where important information is not withheld from those who need to know it.
2) Negative competition– Competition can be healthy and normal when the competition is above ground and the stakes aren’t too terribly dire. However, when a darker kind of inhumane competition sinks in, like those clamoring for the last rescue seats on a sinking ship, you know that something essential has gone topsy-turvy in terms of the workplace culture.
3) Over-Reliance on Rules– Rules and regulations should be there as a backup to common sense. When an entire workforce is splitting hairs over rules and regulations, however, it means that the instinct has been lost to do what’s right for the company. An overreliance on rules also means that individual employees are doing everything they can to play by the book and not endanger their individual jobs – at the expense of teamwork.
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4) Managers and Employees Take Sides and Rarely Interact– It’s natural that there are certain things managers don’t want to discuss in front of their employees, and vice-versa. But when management is encamped on one side of the river and employees have done the same on the other side, suspicion becomes the order of the day. It’s important to remember that managers and other workers are all employees at the end of the day, and should have more in common than not. But when a culture has gone toxic, everyone stays “in their lane” to the detriment of the whole.
5) Nobody Speaks Up When Someone Has a Bad Idea– Again, in a scenario where bad ideas can flourish, it means employees are too busy covering their own bases and not thinking like a team. A bad idea is bad for everyone – a lot worse than a few bruised egos. Anyone can have a bad idea, from the management on down, but it’s equally true that any idea that isn’t worth considering is worth grounding. Anyone in the room should be free to express a concern regarding an idea that has been floated.
6) Perks Standing in for Culture– Anyone can bring team donuts in the morning, but culture is something far more complex and worth preserving. A genuine sense of earned camaraderie and a passionate understanding of the company’s mission are the real deal elements of a healthy culture. Taco Tuesdays, while tasty and fun, aren’t quite the same thing but can sometimes be mistaken for culture. If employees are most enthusiastic about the office perks, the culture itself may be on shaky ground.
7) Employees Jumping Ship Before the Year Mark– The magic word is “retention.” Nobody joins a company with the hopes of lasting there less than a year – it doesn’t look great on a resume and it doesn’t speak much for one’s sense of professional development. No, when you hear about employees jumping ship after five or eight months, it’s a sure sign that they’d rather brave the shark-infested waters of the job market than spend another day trying to survive in a culture that doesn’t give back.
8) Employees Don’t Take Breaks– Taking a break from work for lunch or for a walk around the block is an essential and healthy practice. When employees are afraid to leave their desks for any extended period of time, it usually means they’re encouraged not to by the higher-ups (a no-no) or they’re worried about what might happen in their absence. This is paranoia, pure and simple, but it often can be expected when workers feel a lack of security about their jobs and a lack of trust in their coworkers. Hello, toxicity.
9) Team Spirit is a Joke– Of all the fragile, good things that can be part of an employee’s day, feeling real team spirit is especially precious. No matter how involved and happy they are with their jobs, most people would choose a life of leisure far away from the office in a heartbeat. So when work is where they want to be, when their coworkers are they people they want to be with, when the company mission is one they believe in – that’s when things are really operating at work on the highest level. If the very idea of a burst of team spirit is unthinkable, however, chances are nobody is invested the way they ought to be.
10) Anxiety is Catching– Anxiety is rarely helpful to modern humans. It might have been a real boon in the days of hunting and gathering, but today it more often is a result of overthinking an uncomfortable situation. When people are worried about their future (or their present) at work due to a feeling of the company being slightly rudderless, that kind of worry can become catching. If you visit a workplace and note that nearly everyone seems on edge, there is no clearer sign that the culture at that workplace is faltering.
