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Wednesday 18 July 2018

"Working in a toxic environment can be dangerous to your physical and mental health"

I read this article recently and thought I would share it. Working in a toxic environment can be dangerous to your physical and mental health Don't Let a Toxic Workplace Kill For many people the office feels like our second home. We spend most of our waking hours there, and we probably spend more time with co-workers than with family. If you wake up dreading having to go to work, chances are a toxic work environment has created this anxiety and apprehension for you. If you’re not happy at work, that dissatisfaction can carry over into your personal life, damaging everything from your self-esteem to your friendships. In a toxic workplace, there is passive-aggressive leadership, back-stabbing, politics, tearing others down, destructive gossip and tons of negativity. When you are surrounded by this every day, it’s no wonder that it affects your self-esteem and sense of worth. Toxic workplaces can also have an impact on your health: increased stress can lead to burnout and depression. Signs of a Toxic Work Environment 1. Lack of Communication. Do you feel like you’re left out of the loop regarding important information? Is there little communication about objectives? A lack of communication characterizes most toxic workplaces. You may get little to no feedback about your performance, and when you do, it’s negative and not helpful. 2. You’re Overworked. In a hostile workplace, employees are often overloaded with job responsibilities. You may be doing the work of two, three, or four people. Being overworked can lead to burnout and cause resentment. 3. Lack of Opportunity. If you’ve had discussions with your boss several times regarding a lack of growth opportunities, such as promotions and raises, yet have seen no changes, you’re in a toxic environment. 4. Everyone Has a Bad Attitude. If you walk into work and everyone around you is miserable, there is no enthusiasm, and no one ever says “I enjoy working here,” you’re in a hostile environment. 5. High Turnover Rate. Good people leave, questionable people stay: a high turnover rate among employees is a sign of their unhappiness and poor morale at the office. 6. Gossip, Gossip, gossip. When the rumor mill is more productive than your office, you are definitely in a toxic workplace. 7. Dysfunction. Toxic workplaces are full of confusion, lack of focus and an attitude of “this is the way it’s always been done.” Meetings feel like a waste of time where nothing is accomplished. The company’s operations are disjointed, possibly even failing. Misunderstanding, favoritism, and infighting are normal. 8. Your Boss is Toxic. Your boss tries to control your every move. He is unwilling to listen and feels his way is always the right way. “It’s my way or the highway.” He consistently hurts your self-esteem and undermines your ability to put out good work. 9. You’re Stressed. A poll by Monster found that 42% of U.S. workers have left a job due to an overly stressful environment. High levels of stress are bad for your body, leading to digestive problems and increased risk of heart attack. Pay attention to any symptoms you experience, such as sleepless nights, sweaty palms, a racing heartbeat — your body could be signaling a red flag of danger. 11. Inconsistencies. When the boss lays down rules and doesn’t bother following them himself, it’s more about commanding obedience, exerting power, and maintaining a sense of control. When someone gets scolded for behavior that gets another employee promoted, that’s toxic. 12. Your boss is a narcissist. Does your boss think he can do no wrong? Chances are he’s a narcissist. Narcissists believe the rules don’t apply to them yet demand near-perfection from others. They love having their behavior affirmed and being told they’re correct. They see disagreement as defection; you’re either with them, or you’re against them. How to Cope After reading this list, have you determined you’re in a toxic work environment? If you’re not, be thankful. If you are and you haven’t yet made the decision to quit, consider the following ways to cope: Recognize that your toxic workplace is NOT a reflection of who you are. Separate the daily negativity from the reality of who you truly are. Make time each workday for a short walk by yourself. Get away from your job for a half hour and exercise some positive self-talk to remind yourself of the qualities you possess that make you amazing. Find ways to remind yourself of who you truly are. Realize that you cannot control what other people say and do, you can only control your own actions and reactions. This realization allows you to let go of other people’s negative behavior and then you can focus on improving yourself. Always conduct yourself with integrity. It is easy to think about giving up, but as long as you’re collecting a paycheck, you have an obligation to give an honest day’s work. Don’t justify personal bad behavior on the toxicity that exists in your office. As difficult as it may be, don’t become less than who you are meant to be out of anger or spite for your current employer. Your reputation will continue beyond the company you are working for today, and nothing is worth trading your integrity over. Continue to search for a better place to work and let others know you are interested in new job opportunities. Give your best up to the day when you can happily hand in your resignation letter and move on to better things. Not Every Workplace is Toxic Not every workplace is toxic -- some leaders just “get it”. To end on a positive note, here’s a company where employees are valued, thus they’re happy and fulfilled. Check out some of their comments regarding their experience working for a company that has consistently been named among the best places to work in Pennsylvania. Https://Www.Webpagefx.Com/Employee-Reviews.Html Additional Reading | Resources Here’s a list of additional reading on what constitutes a toxic workplace, how to avoid going to work in a toxic workplace in the first place, and how to cope if you’re in a toxic workplace. Https://Www.Forbes.Com/Sites/Amyanderson/2013/06/17/Coping-In-A-Toxic-Work-Environment/#777d695e7461 https://medium.com/the-mission/its-not-you-it-s-your-job-7-signs-of-a-toxic-workplace-b7ce564f082d http://www.bravelyblooming.com/toxic-workplace.html https://www.monster.com/career-advice/article/workplace-checklist-how-toxic-is-yours-hot-jobs https://www.forbes.com/sites/emiliearies/2017/03/07/5-signs-youre-in-a-toxic-workplace/#73b3ff445134 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxic_workplace

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