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Toxic work environments
How to deal with difficult to work with co-workers and supervisors.
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Featured Blogger
August 25, 2025
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By Sally Runganga
18/01/25
What is a work environment?
This is a space in which we carry out our daily tasks. It can be physical or emotional. It includes the working conditions, social space and the company culture.
Ideal work environment
An ideal work environment is one that encourages and enables teamwork. Leadership enables, through policies, professional growth in a friendly and professional environment. Expectations are made clear. Regular feedback is given through formalized processes like performance appraisals and rewards are given accordingly.
Toxic work environment
This is the opposite of an ideal work environment. In this environment, employees are subjected to overwhelming factors through behaviours and attitudes of those around them, and organisational policies that enable these behaviours. These often negatively affect employee wellbeing, job satisfaction and ultimately production.
Characteristics of a toxic work environment
a. Discriminatory practices, biased treatment and unequal opportunities.
b. Bullying, harassment and manipulation.
c. Lack of
a. Boundaries, for example between work and personal lives.
b. Respect
c. Trust
d. Accountability,
e. Teamwork
f. Support for employee growth.
d. Too much scapegoating, blame game, defensiveness and gas lighting.
e. Poor communication.
f. Unrealistic expectations which can result in burnout through excessive workload and impossible deadlines.
How does a toxic work environment affect employees?
a. An employee may start thinking they are the problem and the reason why all these negative things are happening to them.
b. For fear of rejection and punishment, they may resort to people pleasing behaviours. These may include overworking oneself which in turn can lead to burnout.
c. Physical effects can present as stress and its health related consequences. These consequences can be:
a. Physical, in the form of weight loss, diarrhoea among others
b. Mental, in the form of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, anxiety and depression and low self-esteem.
d. Relationships at work can be strained. An employee may then increasingly be absent from work
e. There is decreased job satisfaction
How can one deal with toxic work environments?
Consider the advantages and disadvantages of trying to address the issue of a toxic work environment. Should you decide to stay, addressing the issues at toxic work environments will eventually lead to increased productivity and employee satisfaction. This, although it can be challenging, will benefits both employer and employee.
a. Do some self-introspection. Identify how the toxicity has affected you and what role you can play to end the toxicity.
b. Identify problem areas, be it a person or an event. Keep a detailed record of specific events, times and places. Give a detailed account of what took place and explain how it affected you. Try and identify patterns from these.
c. Identify a person or persons who can help you, be it a therapist or any other person who is not biased.
d. Address the point of conflict. If it is a co-worker, supervisor or manager, discuss the issue with them in a polite but assertive manner. You can involve a mediator, or escalate the issues to Human Resources if there is need.
e. Set boundaries and enjoy a healthy work-life balance.
f. Join a union or other support networks that can render support as required.
g. Apply for a transfer to another department or branch.
h. If illegal activities are involved, report to relevant regulatory bodies
i. If all else fails, consider resigning from the job. You can find another job but you can’t find another you.
References.
1. Puneet Sandhu. 30/09/2024. 9 signs you are in a toxic work environment-and what to do about it.24/12/2024. themuse.com/advice/toxic-work-environment
2. Elizabeth Perry. 26/05/2023. How to build a healthy workplace environment. 24/12/2024. betterup.com/blog/workplace-environments
3. Meta AI (2024) Conversation with Meta AI. 15/01/2025
4. Ryan Stoltz. Toxic Work Culture: Signs of an Unhealthy Work Environment & How to Fix It. 16/01/2025. Workhuman.com/blog/toxic-work-culture-environment/
18/01/25
What is a work environment?
This is a space in which we carry out our daily tasks. It can be physical or emotional. It includes the working conditions, social space and the company culture.
Ideal work environment
An ideal work environment is one that encourages and enables teamwork. Leadership enables, through policies, professional growth in a friendly and professional environment. Expectations are made clear. Regular feedback is given through formalized processes like performance appraisals and rewards are given accordingly.
Toxic work environment
This is the opposite of an ideal work environment. In this environment, employees are subjected to overwhelming factors through behaviours and attitudes of those around them, and organisational policies that enable these behaviours. These often negatively affect employee wellbeing, job satisfaction and ultimately production.
Characteristics of a toxic work environment
a. Discriminatory practices, biased treatment and unequal opportunities.
b. Bullying, harassment and manipulation.
c. Lack of
a. Boundaries, for example between work and personal lives.
b. Respect
c. Trust
d. Accountability,
e. Teamwork
f. Support for employee growth.
d. Too much scapegoating, blame game, defensiveness and gas lighting.
e. Poor communication.
f. Unrealistic expectations which can result in burnout through excessive workload and impossible deadlines.
How does a toxic work environment affect employees?
a. An employee may start thinking they are the problem and the reason why all these negative things are happening to them.
b. For fear of rejection and punishment, they may resort to people pleasing behaviours. These may include overworking oneself which in turn can lead to burnout.
c. Physical effects can present as stress and its health related consequences. These consequences can be:
a. Physical, in the form of weight loss, diarrhoea among others
b. Mental, in the form of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, anxiety and depression and low self-esteem.
d. Relationships at work can be strained. An employee may then increasingly be absent from work
e. There is decreased job satisfaction
How can one deal with toxic work environments?
Consider the advantages and disadvantages of trying to address the issue of a toxic work environment. Should you decide to stay, addressing the issues at toxic work environments will eventually lead to increased productivity and employee satisfaction. This, although it can be challenging, will benefits both employer and employee.
a. Do some self-introspection. Identify how the toxicity has affected you and what role you can play to end the toxicity.
b. Identify problem areas, be it a person or an event. Keep a detailed record of specific events, times and places. Give a detailed account of what took place and explain how it affected you. Try and identify patterns from these.
c. Identify a person or persons who can help you, be it a therapist or any other person who is not biased.
d. Address the point of conflict. If it is a co-worker, supervisor or manager, discuss the issue with them in a polite but assertive manner. You can involve a mediator, or escalate the issues to Human Resources if there is need.
e. Set boundaries and enjoy a healthy work-life balance.
f. Join a union or other support networks that can render support as required.
g. Apply for a transfer to another department or branch.
h. If illegal activities are involved, report to relevant regulatory bodies
i. If all else fails, consider resigning from the job. You can find another job but you can’t find another you.
References.
1. Puneet Sandhu. 30/09/2024. 9 signs you are in a toxic work environment-and what to do about it.24/12/2024. themuse.com/advice/toxic-work-environment
2. Elizabeth Perry. 26/05/2023. How to build a healthy workplace environment. 24/12/2024. betterup.com/blog/workplace-environments
3. Meta AI (2024) Conversation with Meta AI. 15/01/2025
4. Ryan Stoltz. Toxic Work Culture: Signs of an Unhealthy Work Environment & How to Fix It. 16/01/2025. Workhuman.com/blog/toxic-work-culture-environment/
