How to know and what you can do
Anthony Balderrama, CareerBuilder.com writer
You might not grow a third arm from a toxic job, but you will slowly realize that your mental and even physical healths are suffering from undesirable work conditions.
Sure, you could quit, but how many of us are eager to leave our jobs in this economy? Until you find a better opportunity, you need to work with what you've got, and what you've got is a toxic workplace.
How to know and what you can do
Anthony Balderrama, CareerBuilder.com writer
Toxic chemicals are dangerous stuff -- hence the label toxic. That's why you can't just toss hazardous waste in a trash can or dump nuclear materials in a river. If you get uranium in your drinking water, you're bound to feel sick or find yourself with several extra limbs. (The latter is pure speculation, I admit.)
Bad workplaces aren't all that different. You might not grow a third arm from a toxic job, but you will slowly realize that your mental and even physical healths are suffering from undesirable work conditions.
Sure, you could quit, but how many of us are eager to leave our jobs in this economy? Until you find a better opportunity, you need to work with what you've got, and what you've got is a toxic workplace.
Caution: You're entering a hazardous work zone
If you enter a lab with hazardous materials, you're going to see placards with the skull and crossbones or radioactive symbols posted at the door. If you enter a toxic workplace, it's not that easy; you have to look for the clues. Job seekers can start when they arrive for the first interview, says Roberta Chinsky Matuson, president of Human Resource Solutions.
"When interviewing, be aware of your surroundings," she says. "Do you hear the sounds of laughter or does it feel like people are going through the motions until it's quitting time?"
Matuson also warns of an interviewer who couldn't be less interested in you or the interview.
"Clearly this is a sign that this person has checked out. Is this really someone you want to work for?"
Similarly, if you're given a tour of the space, look at how employees are behaving. Even if they're not laughing, they shouldn't look like work zombies who are afraid to look up from their tasks. Do they seem intimidated or even scared of the boss? If you get the job, you'll be one of those people. At this stage, you can walk away and look elsewhere. If you're employed and already one of those zombies, you have a little more work to do.
Unearthing the toxic elements
Not all toxic situations announce themselves. When your workplace is toxic, you have to recognize the signs.
First, assess your own state of mind. If anything associated with your job gives you a bad feeling, things might not be so great. A gut check is a good gauge, says consultant Joni Daniels of Daniels & Associates.
"If there is a knot in your stomach as you go to work, it could be a sign that the workplace is a toxic one for you," Daniels says. "If you or the office is walking on eggshells until 'someone' leaves the building [or] room, they are toxic. If work is taking up a lot of emotional energy and you can't mentally, intellectually or emotionally 'let it go' -- it's toxic."
Dulin Clark, who is a career coach for the MBA program at Penn State University's business school, agrees with Daniels. He suggests looking at your own emotions and behaviors and working outward to understand workplace toxicity.
"Primarily, [workers] needs to pay attention to how they feel when they are in the work environment," Clark says. "Feelings of chronic stress, building frustration, lethargy, low motivation and problems sleeping are just of the few the signs of being in a toxic workplace environment." Clark points out that some of the most recognizable causes are excessive criticism, poor treatment and lack of appreciation -- things that bug you and of which you're constantly aware.
Excessive gossip, extreme competition and duplicitous co-workers indirectly pollute your work culture and may therefore be more difficult to recognize. Competition can have an especially negative impact on you because it's often mistaken for healthy workplace motivation.
"Certainly doing your best and achieving excellence are highly admirable career strategies," Clarks says. "However, the best co-workers and leaders look out for the well-being of the team and unit."
If you recognize too many of these elements in your work situation, you probably have a toxic workplace. Now you have to do something about it.
Find your hazmat suit
Hazardous materials workers get to wear protective layers to keep the dangerous substances away at a safe distance. Your average employee has no such defense. You have to choose between three options: Leave, work through it or sit tight until something better comes along.
1. Leave
Removing yourself from the situation makes the most sense when you know things won't likely improve. If the move feels right and you can handle it financially, then maybe it is the best option. But many employees don't have the luxury of leaving a job in this economy.
2. Work through it
Finding a way to solve the problem is the ideal solution if you like your job or can't quit. Clark suggests addressing the issue with the person responsible for the toxicity.
"If the toxicity is the result of one person's actions or behaviors, then often the situation can be made more tolerable by an honest and direct conversation with the person," he says. "It is also often helpful to confide in a trusted colleague, both to relieve the tension of the toxic feelings and also to get advice and feedback about how to handle difficult situations."
3. Make do
Sometimes the best temporary solution is just to get by like many people do in imperfect work situations. That doesn't mean you shouldn't try to improve your circumstances. Far from it. Follow the above steps for handling troublesome bosses or co-workers. Vent to a friend. Do whatever you can to ease the knot in your stomach and sense of dread. While you're doing that, also look for a new job. This way you have the security of a paycheck and the comfort of knowing you won't be there forever.
Whatever you choose to do, make sure it's in your best interest. Now that you know you're in a toxic workplace, you have the tools to keep yourself out of harm's way.
Next: Overcoming The Deadly Sins at Work >>
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Search by Company | Search by IndustryAnthony Balderrama is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/abalderrama.
Sep 21st 2009 @ 11:56AM Spyfor
I just quit a toxic job. I was managing a small team for a well-known government program. My team was doing excellent work, and our customer was pleased, but last month things took a sour turn. I discovered my supervisor appeared to be doing something unethical, something which went against corporate policy, and a team member was involved. I took my suspicions to HR. Well, my supervisor was informed of my complaint and took a retaliatory step against me (also against published corporate policy). I was asked to sign a paper accusing me of the most vile behavior or I'd be terminated.
What could I do? I quit, on the spot.
According to corporate procedures, I did what I was supposed to do; I followed the rules, went to HR, and instead of being treated with respect, my character was maligned.
It wasn't worth the continued stress and hassle to deal with the situation; I'd been dealing with it for six weeks. The sad thing is that I really enjoyed the program and my position for nearly a year.
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Sep 24th 2009 @ 6:16AM sloposk
I guess you could say that I'm a successful lazy worked now but it's been a long trip to get here. I opened up a retail business more than 30 years ago when it wasn't prohibitively expensive to do so. I always made a lot of money but I never had much time to enjoy it. I put in at least 65 hours a week and I can't tell you how many events in my children's life I missed when an employee wouldn't show up and I had to go in to cover. About 2 1/2 years ago I became aware that many people were making serious money with internet based home businesses. I saw that as a possible way out of a life that I was growing to hate. I kept trying and failing because I didn't have the required skills and because most training systems and programs were nothing but scams. After about 6 months of trying I finally found something that looked like it was the real deal and besides being very inexpensive to get into, it came with an amazing and legitimate money back guarantee. It took me about 2 months of serious studying to master and I put in as many hours as I could in that time. Once I mastered the skills I needed it all became easy and I was quickly making big profits. I sold my business, cheap, I had to move on. Now I can't wait to wake up every day to check to see how much money I made while I was sleeping. Then I put in about 2 hours a day, if that much, and I'm off to play golf or tennis. I work so little that my wife's friends keep asking her if what I'm doing is legal :) I found this incredible system at HomeBizMoney.notlong.com
Sep 24th 2009 @ 7:13AM cat
If this is a government program there is something known as the whistle blower protection act. Look into it. YOU did the right thing. The unethical employee needed to be terminated not you. Happens all the time.
Sep 24th 2009 @ 9:16AM Ellen
While there are many businesses that have adopted the "open communication" policy...they have not embraced it. And, the bottom line is, they protect their own.
There was a Twilite Zone episode years ago where a rather illiterate group of friends would gather each evening to stare at a pickle jar and take guesses on what might be in it, or what it looked like. The sister of the group leader who lived there and had to host this event every evening finally got fed up and in a fit of anger, reached in to the jar and showed them what it was they were trying to figure out. "It's a bunch of hair ribbon and junk." She declared screaming at them. The next evening, they all met as scheduled as if nothing had changed. However, as the camera panned across the room and began to focus in on the pickle jar, what they were now staring at was the girls' head!
Leaving is the best answer in my opinion. You cannot make people want to "fix" things. And, any environment that does not follow its own policies is not worth the effort. Find a place that has integrity and put your heart and hard work into that. It will be worth the strain of transition - even in this economic climate. Remember, you are either part of the solution or part of the problem. Which do you want to be?
Sep 24th 2009 @ 9:21AM Bob
Yes....unfortunately it is all true about corporate policies and most companies and states have very few laws to protect the individual worker. I had a similar situation where my boss and I did not see eye to eye on some issues. I was then asked to leave based on performance that was totally non-measurable and when I went to HR I was told that the President could do what he wanted (even though it is a large publically held company). "Off the record" I was told by HR that the President was totally wrong and he ruined many careers for no reason whatsoever but no one would challange him. Unfortunatley we are employed "at will"........in other words we can be fired in essence for any reason......even a personality conflict.
Sep 24th 2009 @ 9:27AM Howard
Yesterday I to turned my resignation for similar beliefs. This was with a non profit because of ethical differences, it gnawed on me for several months before I decided, leaving was better than compromise.
I wonder if in todays day and age, have we lost our voice?. Would we stay in a marriage that goes south and destroys our own person and moral fiber? Are we lions or lambs? Not me, I have to look in that mirror each day and will continue to hold myself accountable to the one who is looking back.
Sep 25th 2009 @ 5:54PM Marie
I too was in the same situation 6 years ago. I worked for a large telecommunications company. I worked in an office of approx 100 employees. There was a click of sales reps and managers approx 8 that intimidated the rest of the office. My car was damaged, my life was threatend and I too went to HR. Nothing was done, and after that the situation got worse, I was harassed constantly all day long, there were others that were going through it too. I put up with it for two years and then I resigned they had me sign a paper stating that I would never work for thier company again. I had ten years, I lost everything, a retirement, insurance, 50k. I think I have been blacklisted, because I can't find work in the telecommunications field, no one will hire me in 6 years, I have excellent customer service skills and customer call ins to prove it. I had an excellent employee file, never late, never written up. The whole thing still bothers me to this day. HR in any company has no backbone! Mean people suck!
Sep 24th 2009 @ 10:22AM pushka
I absolutely agree you did the right thing! We had a chemical plant blow up and those poor families who lost loved one's are still fighting the company even though it is well documented that the plant was a time bomb waiting to happen.
Sep 24th 2009 @ 11:48AM Ethical
Spyfor......
You did the right thing and you removed yourself out of the situation. The Human Resource Department did not follow the right procedures and they are the ones that will end up suffering. If this was government and polocies were not being followed then it will catch up to them sooner or later. But at no time when interviewing for another position do you disclose you made a complaint against another manager, supervisor etc., companies say they have open doors and really want employees to report unethical practices but this is not true the less the corporation is told they feel secure that they don't have to investigate it or contact the client of unethical practices....it all comes to the bottom line and how will this hurt the company. So, learn from this and never play a role in unethical practices for they will always have a fall guy for what they do.
And as far as the company.....well it is there lose for they had an honest, ethical person working for them and they have crooks and liers working for them today. As far as the Human Resource Department I am ashamed of them because they should have never exposed you as the person who complained to begin with that should have remained confidential because of retaliation. You should visit you EEOC in your City of State and reveal what did occur to protect yourself.
Sep 24th 2009 @ 1:44PM arthur lee davis
Oftentimes the h.r. departments, are fully aware of the ongoing problems, sit back and do nothing . your case seem to be one of the oftentime ones . that within itself is bad . what is gross, your case , the facts that you shared were not kept ,in fact they were told to your manager, which was a part of the complaint, thereby, causing grief, resentment , anger,and hurt on your part, in addition to having to quit a job you liked . only because you refuse to play the game their way and by their rules . Truly Sad . Seek out a good attorney, there may be a way, of which this lay person thinks there is for you to recover damages . As you go forward, even our government is not beyond reproach in some things, ( not our goverment, some people in certain places ) if you pay attention to current events, you can get a feel for somethings that are distasteful present time, present day, perhaps not to be able to say unequivocalLY this is wrong, or you are a liar nevertheless, the facts bear out something is amiss . GOOD LUCK, with the rest of your future .
Sep 24th 2009 @ 7:05PM Anonymous
I worked at a local home health agency. What a begign sitaution right? I mean a place whose main motive is to help people???? What a laugh!!!! the boss routinely called me into the office laughing while he told me about all of the people that had called in never offering any support of me. The one I liked best was when there was 4 feet of snow on the roads and he told me someone had called in and complained that " I took too long at the grocery store." mind you the agency was open that day and they doubly expected that we be there and specifically NOT CALL IN. I hate it there it made me sick!!!1
Sep 24th 2009 @ 6:36AM strawmanslave
How telling when there is no mention of industries intentional pollution of the Planet.
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Sep 24th 2009 @ 10:16AM DAVE
Drean on in wishing for the perfect world with no toxins. It will never ever happen.
Sep 24th 2009 @ 7:02AM School Counselor in Rochester, NY
I have been a High School Counselor in the city of Rochester for over 30 years. Last year, a veteran Principal retired and was replaced by a 30+ years old principal with no high school experience. This young man came in making sweeping changes without any assessment of what worked or what didn't work best for students. To make a long story short, in his first year 30 or more teachers transferred out of the building; some became sick due to stress and went out on leave; while others file grievances against his decisions made. I was one of those who grieved. This year, as a retaliatory move against me, he has placed me in a toxic storage space which is underneath the balcony of the auditorium, reduced my (summer) pay days,changed my caseload of students - where I worked as an experienced counselor with juniors and seniors, he replaced me with a counselor who has no experience working with these grade levels. Thus, he's hurting students in his retaliatory effort to hurt me. I have filed grievances and reported his actions to OSHA. The state division of OSHA has cited violations to the district for his decision to place me in the toxic storage area. I'm sharing this with your readers to let them know that there are steps that can be taken in addition to those you've mentioned above for employees who have worked at a toxic environment. You're right, your gut feelings are the best barometer to determine the degree of toxicity of your workplace. Don't ignore it, and know that there are ways to address/attack the problem and the perpetrator of the problem.
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Sep 24th 2009 @ 7:59AM Toxic Work Slave
You're input is so appreciated & timely for me, thank you for sharing it. I've worked in a really toxic work place for a very long time. The job wasn't always bad, but the last several years it's become intolerable and with major lay offs last January, we're still expected to produce the same amount of work as we did prior to lay offs with absolutely no support by the management. It is an impossible job with expectations that cannot be accomplished. Your comments have opened my eyes about another alternative I didn't even think of, so thank you for your comments.
Sep 24th 2009 @ 5:22PM Mike
Uh, guy? "Toxic" as used in the context of this article refers to an unpleasant work environment which is so bad that it can have actual physical effects. They aren't literally talking about hazardous waste here. . .
Sep 24th 2009 @ 7:34AM Perplexed
With the economy and job market the way it is, people are out of work all over the place. Why do so many people on the internet have to set "traps" for innocent people, misleading them into employment scams, work at home scams, etc?...Someone needs to step in and regulate this major problem. People are taking advantage all over the place to get a website "plug" to bait people and direct them to their misleading "money pit". Shame on everyone trying to make a quick dollar...The internet is being vastly abused. People beware!
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Sep 24th 2009 @ 7:47AM michael
Sorry but most of you are talking nothing but a bunch of trash and quit stirring the manure around. Its not really what you know its who you know thats going to get you that good job. Skills are great but they are not everything they look for i know i been trying for three years to get a IT job in computers I have the skills I have my MCP MICROSOFT CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL AND MY MILITARY AS WELL
ALSO A DEGREE BUT IT HAS NOT LANDED ME THAT JOB YET. So most of your talk is manure if you think that skills is all you need .
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Sep 24th 2009 @ 10:23AM Debra
Michael, what you say is true but no offense, maybe you could take a grammar course at a junior college (I know my grammar isn't perfect, either). Most employers want someone who has the whole package and if your correspondence to them is like your email above, they might be put off.
Sep 24th 2009 @ 8:06AM Here for now
I work for a global company that is in the top 100 to work for. Some of the low level managers use that as a club "you know how many people want your job" when they want you to do more with less to make them look good to corporate level bosses. They are empowered by and old out of date reputation. I am hunkered down and waiting. The ecomomy is weak now but won't stay that way for ever. Five years ago I would have left and not looked back. They think I am gung ho but really I am just glad to have a job. I have it all chronic stress, building frustration and don't sleep well anymore. You always wait to hear criticism that you know is coming about stuff you know you can't change. Even an injury is your fault and is a write up. I dream of the day I leave there.
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