Companies need more than a talented group of employees to succeed – they need to provide a quality work environment for their people.
But that’s easier said than done. Workplaces can become toxic if leaders aren’t vigilant.
Warning signs
According to Carol Sankar, founder of leadership firm The Confidence Factor, there are warning signs of toxicity to watch out for. They include:
• a lack of diversity and inclusion
• a “boys’ club” feeling
• poor communication
• lots of gossiping, and
• a high turnover rate.
These issues can have serious consequences if not addressed. Employees’ mental health can take a big hit. Burnout, physical illness and trouble sleeping are other side effects of a toxic work environment.
What you can do
The good news is, you don’t have to stand idly by. Sankar has some solid steps you can take to resolve toxicity at work.
Encourage employees to report harassment, abuse or bullying that they’ve experienced or witnessed. Reassure them that the process is easy, safe and confidential.
It’s important to tell employees you need honest feedback in order to make the work environment more comfortable for everyone.
Evaluate your managers and see if any of them could be contributing to the negative work environment. Check any past employee complaints about these leaders. If you allow poor managers to stay, employees will continue to leave.