Toxic Workplaces

Toxic Workplaces: Know These Alarming And Shameful Signs Before Accepting

You can identify a toxic workplace before accepting a job offer

A state of utter confusion or disorder; a total lack of organization or order. — dictionary.com

When I started at this place, I didn’t think I’d be working here for another ten years!

Boy, I was wrong!

I’ve been here for more than two decades. What started off as a dull but steady job quickly turned into one of the most toxic workplaces in the country, if not the world — no exaggeration.

After many years of working under this toxic boss, I write about my experiences and the work environment. To warn people about the risk of being trapped in a toxic workplace, I want to warn you before it is too late.

According to dictionary.com, a toxic workplace is “a state of utter confusion or disorder; a total lack of organization or order.”

I am an HR professional with over 25 years in HR. I’ve worked for two different toxic companies and know that toxic workplaces kill your joy. I have witnessed many employees who have been trapped in these toxic workplaces.

It would be easy for you to sit back and think that no one ever got hurt by a toxic workplace, but you’d be wrong. It’s not just individual cases; these toxic workplaces are also places where we see the most egregious forms of negligence.

The system fails the most — and the place where it is the hardest to change.

And no matter what, if you are in a toxic workplace, your life will never be the same again. It is like having a heart attack — you might not die, but your life will drastically change.

You will experience all the emotions known to man; sadness, anger, frustration, guilt, resentment, hopelessness, anxiety, fear, self-doubt, shame, insecurity…It is challenging to deal with a toxic workplace, but it is possible to get out with the right skills and support.

Not to mention, you will be abused in ways you could not even begin to understand.

My story is to help everyone understand that no matter how badly you are treated, no matter how precarious your situation, there is always a way out.

Once you can see that you are not a failure, it is easier to keep fighting and looking for a way out.

In my career, I’ve seen people sit at their desks crying, I’ve heard screaming matches between employees and employers, I’ve witnessed vindictiveness, and most importantly, I’ve watched people’s careers come to a screeching halt.

Yours truly included. I’ve had some outrageous tales from my toxic workplace.

Know The Signs

Identifying a toxic workplace before accepting a job offer is a critical step in the life of most job seekers today.

At first, this may seem like a complicated task. However, it is not if you have the right questions and a careful eye .

You can identify a toxic workplace before accepting a job offer.

But if you want more advice, read on.

One thing to watch out for in a toxic workplace is the company’s structure.

If you are interviewing with anyone and you’ve not met with HR at some point during the interviewing process, you should be very suspicious.

If you go through the whole interview process, given a start date, but you’ve not met with HR, you should really question the offer’s validity. If the company take you through the process and you never speak with HR — take your time and think about the proposal because it might be something you need to do some research on before you accept.

The Quintessential Chaos

A situation occurred when my employer posted a job opening, went through the interview process, selected a candidate, and gave them a start date.

Neither the department manager nor HR was involved with the process.

The owner afterwards asked the department manager to interview the candidate, after which he asked HR to do the final interview.

What’s wrong with this is that it was done backwards, and neither two departments were allowed to scrutinize all of the applicants’ resumes.

Ideally, the department manager and HR should have met to identify the available position, reviewed the job description before posting the position, and screened the applicants.

This way, we could have checked qualifications and skills to determine fit.

But instead, the HR manager was required to interview them at the end of the process. And only after the position was technically filled.

Subsequently, both the department manager and HR determined that this candidate was not a good fit for the company based on knowledge, skills, and ability. That is where the problem started.

At the end of interviewing the candidate, the candidate informed HR that they had a verbal agreement and a start date that they’d already accepted. Mind you, the company did not tell either of the two managers that they had already made an offer, and it accepted.

Imagine the shock and awe!

Due diligence in identifying that the candidate was not a good fit for the company until the end of the process clearly indicates that the company lacks structure.

Houston, There Is A Problem!

When explained to the owner, he wanted an email sent to the “candidate” — technically newly hired employee, informing them not to report to work as offered. Essentially, rescinding the verbal offer.

Something like this could only happen because managers were being undermined.

If the department manager and HR cannot be involved, the entire process is suspect. You need to speak with them before you take a job.

If you’ve not met your direct supervisor during the hiring process, investigate the company thoroughly and carefully. The same goes for the HR department.

If you don’t meet with them, you should.

Learn From The Foolishness Of Questioning

The best way to investigate the environment is to ask questions. Below are some examples of the type of questions to ask.

• How many people are employed here?
• What is the company culture like?
• Have you taken the company through any audits?
• Are the employees engaged? Are they happy? Are they encouraged? Are they motivated?
• Do you provide training?
• What is employee turnover like?
• How long has the company been in business?
• How long is the average tenure?
• How long has your longest employee been there?

“The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.” — Albert Einstein

To Be Forewarned Is To Be Forearmed

Grant it, they might not be honest in answering every question, but you’ll get the gist of the situation by how they responded. It’s not what the interviewer says; it is how they say it. It is why you need to meet with the HR Manager and your direct supervisor before accepting a job.

It’s not just about the money; but rather about the company’s culture. If your manager can’t be trusted to be honest with you, how can you expect the company to be legitimate?

If they are not involved, it is possible that the person you are interviewing is toxic, and you should think about it some more. This is not to say that you should walk away without even considering the job, but you may regret it if you do so.

The conversation’s conclusion should be that you talk with the manager and HR. This will allow you to get a better feel for the company and the people.

When meeting with HR, ensure the company has an accredited HR professional who holds a professional accreditation standard.

HR professionals are typically required to undergo professional training and testing before they can practice. Accreditation comes with a certain level of experience in the field. And also, they are held to a higher standard of ethics.

HR professionals must be accountable to their peers and the public.

I hope this is helpful to you in some way. As they say, if you have been given a seat, you have been given the seat. If you have been given a choice, you have been given the choice. You need to take the time to understand both before accepting.

There is never enough time in life, but there is always enough time to do the things that make life worth living.’ — Henry David Thoreau.