Life Lessons | Human Resources | Toxic Workplaces
5 Warning Signs You’ve Been Constructively Dismissed from Your Toxic Workplace
The work environment you find yourself in makes up a large part of your day-to-day life and can significantly impact your health and happiness.
If you’re ready to leave your toxic workplace, but you aren’t sure if you are legally able to do so, pay close attention to these five warning signs that you may have been constructively dismissed.
Constructive dismissal is when you have been forced out of your job due to intolerable working conditions, despite not being explicitly fired from the company. If your employer has done one or more things to push you out, it’s essential to speak with an employment lawyer about your legal options.
The toxic nature of some workplaces can seriously affect your mental health and happiness.
However, it can be hard to detect if you’re still there, especially since the toxic employer will do everything to hide their behavior from the rest of the world.
Toxic workplaces are where employees feel physically and emotionally ill, constantly unhappy and stressed. It affects their performance at work and their ability to enjoy the rest of their lives. If you find yourself in this situation, you may have been constructively dismissed from your job without even knowing it.
Keep reading to learn more about these 5 warning signs that you may have been constructively dismissed from your toxic workplace.
1) Is Your Boss Trying to Control Every Little Detail?
Have you ever felt as if your boss is trying to control every aspect of your life?
This could be a red flag that there’s toxic workplace culture. It might seem minor at first, but having to justify every one of your moves eventually takes its toll. If you constantly feel your boss doesn’t trust you, or even worse, doesn’t respect you, it might be time to consider leaving.
If you want to know if you’ve been constructively dismissed from your toxic workplace, consider how you feel when you arrive at work compared to how you feel when you leave. It might be time to move on if it feels like an enormous weight has been lifted from your shoulders as soon as your weekend begins.
Another sign that you might be working in a toxic workplace is how much time you spend thinking about work outside of work.
2) Do You Feel Treated as Incompetent?
Constructive dismissal is arguably better than being wrongfully terminated because there is no need to prove fault. There are no damages due for hurt feelings — as long as you leave within a reasonable time after finding out your boss thinks you’re incompetent.
Sometimes you can’t put your finger on why you feel treated as incompetent, which may be something less tangible. It could be a general feeling that things aren’t going well or aren’t progressing as they should. In other cases, your boss might not come right out and say they think you’re incompetent but drops subtle hints instead.
These cues could include negative comments about how you perform specific tasks, being excluded from projects, or purposefully being kept in the dark about critical information at work. Always trust your gut when it comes to these kinds of situations — if you feel like something isn’t right, chances are there’s more to it than what meets the eye.
If you feel like you’re being treated as incompetent, it’s probably time to start looking for a new job. The last thing you want to do is wait until your boss fires you or eventually forces you out, or make your life a living hell.
3) Are You Being Micromanaged?
A top sign that your company isn’t just a toxic workplace but also a very dysfunctional one is if you feel like you’re micromanaged, writes Michael Kerr’s, in his book The Humor Advantage.
If you’re being watched over by someone who always seems to think they know better than you do — someone whose primary job is to tell everyone what to do — it could be time to start looking for another job.
Micromanagement is a sure sign of an unhealthy organization.
On the other hand, a healthy organization doesn’t need to watch over its employees every day. Instead, it trusts and empowers them — allowing them to do their jobs in whatever way they think is best.
If you’re not being trusted to do your job without constant supervision, it’s a clear sign that you’re in a bad situation.
4) Are You Being Subjected to Excessive Gossip?
Working in a toxic workplace is like being surrounded by negative energy 24/7.
There’s always drama and backstabbing going on.
How can you know that you’re dealing with these types of people?
- Watch out for excessive gossip and rumors within your group — it’s one of those telltale signs that something terrible is happening in your office.
Do they spend most of their time trading stories about coworkers or bosses instead of working hard on their own assignments?
- You might want to rethink your position there, as coworkers who engage in too much workplace gossip often have difficulty getting along well with others.
Gossiping is simply an indirect form of bullying.
If your coworkers spend their days gossiping about each other, then there’s a good chance they won’t hesitate to do it to you too. The best way to protect yourself from excessive workplace gossip is to stop engaging in it.
Make sure you have a strong work ethic and stay focused on getting things done instead of spreading negative stories about your coworkers behind their backs.
5) Has the Way You’re Treated Changed Over Time?
Have you noticed that your boss or coworkers are treating you differently? Are they saying and doing things that suggest they don’t value your contributions anymore? If so, it might be constructive dismissal.
If your boss changes how they interact with you to humiliate, insult, or disregard your work, it might be constructive dismissal. To help protect yourself in such a situation, keep evidence of how you were treated if you need it later on.
Most people will encounter a toxic boss at some point in their lives.
There’s no need to worry if you’re currently dealing with one; chances are, it won’t last forever. Just make sure to document your experience and keep evidence of how you were treated so that if things do get worse, you can prove constructive dismissal.
And remember just because someone is being a jerk doesn’t mean you have been constructively dismissed.
6) Dread, Anxiety, Fear, Blatant Disrespect?
Find yourself dreading each day at work, constantly feeling anxious, fearful, or filled with anxiety because of your boss or other employees? It may be time to re-evaluate your current employment situation.
Toxic work environments can be damaging to your mental and physical health, and while they may not always leave marks on your body or alter self-esteem, they can still take a toll. It’s vital that you’re happy in what you do if you plan on dedicating 40+ hours a week to it; if not, start looking elsewhere now.
Often times you may find yourself second-guessing decisions made by your boss.
The first sign of trouble is when you disagree with or hesitate to carry out your boss’ orders. You might feel like an outsider in meetings or at staff gatherings and disconnected from your coworkers. These are warning signs that all is not well at work, and it may be time to reassess where you’re spending 40+ hours a week of your life.
Pack Up
Remember, there’s no one-size-fits-all method to getting fired.
If you find yourself jobless for whatever reason and need a new gig fast, take these five steps to give your old company constructive notice that you’re moving on. Sometimes, a career shift is just a matter of good timing — and luck. Happy hunting!
Now that you know how to tell if you’ve been constructively dismissed, start looking for a new job.
When it comes time to put your best foot forward, just remember not to mention anything related to your old company — especially if it wasn’t in a positive light.
Most employers don’t want to hear bad things about previous workplaces anyway, and most will have trouble seeing past them even if they really do come up naturally in conversation.
Here are some other things to consider should you find yourself in a toxic workplace.
Working Long-term in a Toxic Environment Is like Being in a Bad Relationship
Gas Lighting in a Toxic Workplace Is a Harsh Reality That Will Scare the Bejeebers out Of you
Toxic Workplaces, Like Crabs in a Bucket, Leaves You Fighting for Life Every Day
