A toxic work culture creates a vicious cycle that saps organizational productivity. Companies affected by a toxic environment lack a safe space for team members to express themselves and do their best work. Word travels fast in the digital age, and toxic workplaces and negative industry reputations could significantly harm shareholder trust.

From an operational point of view, workplace toxicity reduces employee engagement and performance and can cause high turnover. The Job Seeker Nation report revealed that more than 30% of workers left their jobs within 90 days due to the failed expectations of company culture. While toxic culture is a worrying problem, inclusive hiring could remedy the situation.

Our article dives into the common signs of a toxic work culture and how inclusive hiring can prevent these crises at any stage of the organizational journey.

What is a Toxic Work Culture?

A toxic work culture typically involves what some may consider “politics” at work. These disagreements arise when team members have issues communicating their roles and streamlining work decisions. Factors like inherent biases in recruitment, inefficient team structures, and vague company values could lead to a toxic work culture.

Toxic workplaces compromise an organization’s morals, missions, and ethos (i.e., core values). The negative work environment creates challenging relationships with stakeholders, employees, partners, and customers. A toxic work culture could ultimately impede an enterprise’s success, progress, and scalability.  

Recognizing The Common Signs of a Toxic Work Culture

In many instances, the signs of a toxic work environment may not appear immediately obvious. For that reason, it is common for employers to overlook them until they start reducing the company’s productivity.

The tricky thing about work culture is that it is a sum of its parts. No one person is responsible for the success or inefficiency of organizational culture. Although employees and stakeholders may point at senior leadership regarding responsibility, culture is ultimately a collective effort.

In the simplest terms, a toxic work culture exists when individual team members and departments fail to agree on project plans and execution. The earliest signs of toxic work culture could involve individuals prioritizing their own KPIs and targets above group or organizational needs.

The following signs could suggest a toxic work environment that requires a reevaluation of talent management and acquisition.

Inefficient Leadership

A toxic workplace lacks a supportive environment where leaders and supervisors dominate decision-making without consulting the rest of the team. These disengagements could result in employees experiencing job dissatisfaction and a lack of trust. Instances of ineffective leadership may include micromanagement and an uneven distribution of responsibilities.

As employees tend to turn to leaders during crises, it is vital to maintain open communication and a trusting relationship to navigate uncertainties successfully. Decision-makers should also recognize that ineffectual leadership leads to poor succession planning. A lack of succession compromises skill transfers, leads to costly training, and causes a loss of business continuity.

‍

Read full article here