Here’s What To Do If You Want a Toxic Work Environment:
I've seen the worst of workplace cultures and the toll they can take on both employees and leaders.
In my experience, there are certain things you should do if you want to create a toxic work environment:
Neglect to communicate: Communication is key in any workplace, and lack of transparency and open lines of communication can breed mistrust and fear. There is nothing more toxic than living in fear.
Encourage competition over collaboration: Encouraging a cutthroat environment can help employees feel pitted against each other and create an environment of distrust.
Ignore toxic behavior: Turning a blind eye to toxic behavior, like gossip, from employees can create a culture where it's tolerated and perpetuated.
Neglect employee well-being: Not prioritizing employee well-being, such as work-life balance and mental health, can lead to burnout and high levels of turnover.
Discourage employees from taking off days and vacations: Make it clear that employees should never get breaks — they should even be working through lunch and responding to emails past closing time. These practices result in burnout, but anything to keep attendance numbers high, right?
Never express thanks or appreciation: When employees don’t receive praise for doing something well, they don’t know to keep repeating it in the future. Not expressing gratitude or appreciation for them inevitably makes them feel invalidated.
Creating a toxic workplace is a surefire way to lower employee morale, reduce productivity, and drive top talent away.
You're welcome. 💡
