1. What’s The BigIdea?
Is Your Work Environment Toxic?
By Jeffrey Petro
Represented by a skull and cross bones, 7. You feel exhausted after coming
the word “toxic” most often describes home from work at night.
household cleaners and industrial chemi- 8. You occasionally have bad dreams in
cal waste. Lately, however, the term has which people or situations from work
become applicable to the work environ- play a negative role.
ment, too — maybe even yours. 9. You often dislike your job and where
If you’re concerned about your organi- you are in your career.
zation being labeled “toxic,” know this: 10. You find yourself consciously avoid-
The secret to an organization’s success ing your supervisors whenever pos-
lies in connecting individuals’ specific sible. a way that contributes to these “toxic”
strengths to a team’s collective character 11. You are responsible for managing feelings. Maybe staff is receiving too
and spirit. Doing that effectively enhances an organization and have problems little positive feedback. Or, maybe senior
each team member’s creative and intellec- such as high turnover, low employee executives have become micromanagers
tual potential and creates a whole that is morale and excessive absences. as a way of coping with the economic
much greater than the sum of its parts. As 12. Your organization has a negative rep- downturn, causing long-term staff to feel
a result, group members are ready, willing utation among potential employees. disrespected and frustrated.
and able to give their best. 13. Few employees arrive early for work, Whether it’s one employee who’s
More simply put: In order to avoid and few stay late. unhappy or many, you can prevent toxic-
a toxic workplace, associations must 14. You feel or hear that supervisors ity by hiring proper team members from
facilitate a high level of trust and respect frequently display a “do-it-my-way” the start, perhaps by incorporating into
among staff — starting by assessing attitude. the hiring process the use of a person-
and correcting the toxic behaviors that 15. There appears to be an abnormal ality test so as to consider not only a
already exist. turnover rate among veteran and key candidate’s training, education and expe-
personnel. rience, but also his or her work style.
Warning Signs A person who experiences any of the Of course, if your work environment
The first step toward avoiding a toxic above symptoms must decide if he or already is toxic, you must focus on treat-
workplace is to detect toxic feelings, and she should continue working in his or her ment instead of prevention. In that case,
to determine whether they belong to only current position, as doing so could make consider hiring an independent human
one person or to an entire staff. After all, them miserable and negatively impact resources adviser to undertake a review
feelings are subjective. their performance. Further, their health of your environment. The review often
Below are a few signs that you might and overall demeanor may suffer as a includes a survey of employees, as the
work in a “toxic” environment; without result, affecting not only their attitude at best responses to such surveys often
remedy, they eventually could cause even work, but also their happiness outside come when an outside adviser is enlisted
the most loyal employees to resign: the office. The result hurts employer and and clearly communicates to staff that all
1. Very little work you or your employ- employee alike. comments will remain confidential. Even
ees do goes without correction. after the initial evaluation, ongoing sur-
2. The thought of going back to Treatments veys conducted by managers using tools
work after a weekend or vacation If an individual staff member is display- like SurveyMonkey can be very helpful in
depresses you. ing these symptoms, it could be that he addressing a toxic work environment.
3. There is an overall tense atmosphere or she is not suited to their position or to No matter who conducts the survey,
at your place of work. the organization’s culture. After all, some the results should not be taken lightly, as
4. Your organization or department is people respond well to being microman- a toxic workplace has negative results for
characterized by a strict hierarchy or aged and receiving frequent correction; both employers and employees. Ignoring
micromanaged style. others do not. its causes and effects will not make it go
5. Your colleagues, especially supervi- If symptoms are prevalent in many away. Only by seeking to improve the sit-
sors, frequently treat you and others employees, on the other hand, your orga- uation can an employer resolve it.
with a lack of respect. nization should examine its staff inter-
6. When you think about work in the actions and working environment on a Jeffrey Petro is vice president of Industrial
morning, you feel tired, grumpy or fundamental, cultural level. Perhaps one Insurance Associates. He may be reached at (847)
discouraged. or several managers are acting in such 485-2202 or jpetro@iiaemail.com.
52 Forum OCTOBER 2012
