Signs Youre in a Toxic Work Environment and How to Handle It

Signs Youre in a Toxic Work Environment and How to Handle It Signs Youre in a Toxic Work Environment - and How to Handle It Signs Youre in a Toxic Work Environment - and How to Handle ItDont let a toxic work environment catch you off guard.All jobs have some level of stress even on good days. However, if going to work (or just the thought of going to work) makes you tired, depressed, or even physically ill, thats more than just general work stress these are the signs of a toxic work environment.Physical signs of a toxic work environmentA toxic workdistributions-mix can be defined as any job where the work, the atmosphere, the people, or any combination of those things cause serious disruptions in the rest of your life.These disruptions can show up in any number of physical symptoms, says a recent article by coach and human-behavior prof Melody Wilding. These include sleepless nights, feeling constantly vigilant, sweaty palms, and a racing heartbeat.Whats more, a toxic or hostile workplace has negative health impacts that can affect your personal life by damaging everything from your self-esteem to your friendships, states Wilding.Our bodies are very adept at letting us know theres a danger that needs to be addressed, so we need to pay attention. Check in with yourself frequently with these questionsHow are you sleeping? Are you regularly getting at least eight hours?Whats your eating like? Are you often too stressed to eat, or do you tend to overeat?Are you feeling safe at home and at work?If the answers to these questions raise red flags, then its time to assess your work environment to see what exactly is causing your health and well-being to suffer.Related12 Tips to Manage Workplace StressWorkplace signs of a toxic environmentThese are some solid indicators that youre in a toxic work environmentEmployee Sickness Toxic workplaces lead to employee burnout, fatigue, and illness due to high levels of stress that wreak havoc on our bodies. If people are calli ng in sick or worse, are working sick, thats a good sign of a toxic work environment.Narcissistic Leadership Your higher-ups demand that you always agree with them, tell them theyre right, and feel theyre above the rules. They expect everyone else to be perfect while they can meet lower standards.Little to No Enthusiasm Look around the office. Is anyone happy to be working there? Is anyone smiling? Are conversations positive and upbeat? Is anyone talking at all? A no to these questions equals toxicity.Lack of Communication or Negative Communication You and others dont get the necessary information to do your job. You work hard with no positive feedback and no recognition, and you might even be told to be glad you have a job at all.High Turnover When the work environment has nothing good to offer except dysfunction, poor morale, and sickness, people will start heading for the door to find a better situation. If you notice a high turnover satz in your company or department, take that as a sign of a toxic workplace.Cliques, Gossip, and Rumors Everyone seems to be out for themselves, and there are no genuine friendships among employees. Theres lots of infighting and paranoia as well as gossip and rumors.In addition to the list above, trust your gut if it tells you something is wrong. Once you know what youre dealing with, its time to develop strategies that can help you stay sane day to day.How to handle a toxic work environmentSince it takes time to find a new job and you cant just walk away from this difficult situation immediately, it helps to develop ways to handle the dysfunction until you can step into a new job somewhere elseFind people who feel the same way you do. Develop friendships with people who feel the same way as you. The hope is that youll watch each others back and will share any news with the group.Do something after work that can help relieve stress. Go to the gym, do home repairs, or learn a new skill. The key is to make sure youre living a fu lfilling life outside of work to combat the drama of your 9 to 5.Create lists to keep yourself busy. A list can help you stay focused on your tasks instead of the toxic atmosphere and gives you a reason to keep going every day.Document everything you do. Save emails and write down comments and decisions from meetings, phone calls, and every person who interacts with you. If you need to file a complaint, you will need the evidence to back your claim.Start your exit strategy. It is possible that things could improve at your job, in which case it might make sense to stay. However, while waiting it out, begin your search for a new job. This will help you stay positive when things get rough. If you needed to leave yesterday, consider a bridge job that will keep you active while you find something in line with your career.Knowing the signs of a toxic work environment and how to handle it will allow you to take your next step on your terms and in your time so your next job will be a place you truly enjoy working.Click on the following link for more advice on how to get ahead.Looking for a new job to escape your old one? 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