Photo by Dan Meyers on Unsplash

How to Recognize a Toxic Workplace

Just like resumes put candidates in the best possible light, companies can try to do the same to attract the best talent.

But now you’re on board and have a bad feeling about what you’ve gotten yourself into. Here are indications that your company culture is toxic.

• Turnover exceeds the average over a long period of time. Good people don’t have to stick around at a bad company. They leave for a better situation.
• People aren’t inclined, or may even be afraid, to speak up in meetings. They’ve learned that doing so can be career-limiting.
• Everyone in meetings always vehemently agrees with whatever the highest ranking person in the room has to say. That’s learned survival, not enthusiastic support.
• The company has some kind of mission/vision/values as part of their marketing, but it’s clear they don’t adhere to the values they tout.
• Nothing substantive is done about hostile behavior. Instead it’s swept under the rug or people are told “to stop being so sensitive.”

If you’re still in the interview phase of your next career move, take this step.

• Ask around. Most toxic workplaces aren’t a secret. You may not get any specific negative comments, but what you do get is vague and hardly enthusiastic. People may fear that what they say will get around so will be very careful about what they divulge.

Companies are starting to understand that good people won’t stick around at unnecessarily stressful jobs. Until they all get on board with committing to create a good culture, make sure you don’t get on board with them.