Why do we accept toxic working cultures?
By: Liam Bostock
Tags: Work, Culture, Employees, HR, Business

Your most dysfunctional relationship might be with your job

It’s a universally accepted truth that every office has it’s own microclimate. Some call it “office politics” or “organisational culture.” We might define it by how we feel about work or how the people we work with feel about their job, how supportive our organisation is, how they show us we’re valued and how it treats its people. It often involves explicit and implicit rules and organisational norms.

When you first join a new organisation, department or team you’ll have a heightened awareness of changing from one microclimate to another and, over time you’ll either become accustom to your new normal or you’ll decide it’s not where you want to be and move on.

This week Barclays scrapped their ‘big brother’ system. The system monitored the activities of their people and even sent messages to staff who were taking too long on breaks. Barclays said “We always intended to listen to colleague feedback as part of this limited pilot which was intended to tackle issues such as individual over-working as well as raise general productivity.” No matter Barclays’ intention, this is something I find deeply disturbing and so should you.

Barclays’ decision to monitor their staff and their activities suggests a deep distrust in their people. The problem for Barclays is their people know this now, and many of them will lack trust in their employer. This could be a people disaster for Barclays. Imagine if your employer monitored everything you did, would you feel trusted and valued? No, me neither.

On average, we’ll spend more than 13 years working over the course of our lives. Whether you work full time, part time, flexibly or have a job share, work undoubtedly plays a significant role in your life and your identity. We arguably spend more time at work than we do with family, friends and loved ones. We spend more time thinking about and doing our work than we do on the things we love like hobbies, travelling or anything else we may otherwise wish we were doing. The things you love may rule the heart but work most definitely rules the head.

When I meet new people I’m often asked “what do you do?” and I know exactly what this question means. It means, what do I do for a living? I ask this, and I’m guessing you do to. Our choice of career or where we work says a lot about us, or should I say, it says a lot to the person you’re talking to. You’re a nurse? You must be caring. You’re a chef, you must really enjoy cooking. You’re a teacher? Wow, you must love kids. And while many of us enjoy or dare I say, even love the work we do, do we love the organisation we work for? Does the organisation value me? Does it trust me? And, does it fit with my values? If the answer is “yes” then you may as well click off now (thanks for making it this far). If the answer is “no” it might be time to ask yourself if you’re working in a toxic culture?

Spotting a toxic working culture

Like a disfunction relationship, the signs of a toxic working culture are all around you. You’re probably aware of them but you might be ignoring them.

1. You dread going to work

This is the first sign something’s not right. Although some us dread Monday morning, everyday feels like a Monday morning to you. You’re tired and anxious. When you do finally finish that commute, you don’t know what you’ll walk in to each day and if you’ll be greeted or mistreated.

2. Misery loves company

We can’t love every aspect of everything at work, but you’re in a sea of unhappy, frustrated and negative faces. Some will be very vocal about how unhappy they are while others will grin and bare it, for now.

3. Control, what’s that?

You go to work and you have little to no say about the work you do let alone any control over how it’s done. Sure, you have opinions and I’ll bet they’re valid, even very good. But, in a toxic work culture your voice isn’t equal. Scratch that, it’s not even heard.

4. Breaks are for weaklings

You’ve got yourself in to the habit of having that uninspiring sandwich at your desk. You might do this because you’re overloaded with work, you feel watched by your boss or because it’s just what everyone does.

5. There’s always a leaving card to sign (and contribute to)

Didn’t you just sign that card and give a fiver to Dave? The turnover in your organisation is inexplicably high. Sure the old timers stick it out but you notice more and more of the newer people in your team head for the hills sooner rather than later. Feeling envious yet?

6. Your one to one meetings with your boss are about your boss

Coaching? Forget about it. You’re sat across from your boss who spends most of their time talking about their workload, their deadlines (these are not yours by the way), how frustrated and miserable they are at work, and how they can’t stand so and so from finance. Before you know it, it’s all over and you’re carrying their stresses as well as your own.

7. Takeaway with your takeaway

You’ve left for the day and you’ve survived another zombie commute home. Too tired to cook and too much work to do. it’s time to order a takeaway and carry on with the takeaway of work from the office. Work no longer has boundaries and your personal and professional life have started to resemble a Jackson Pollock painting.

Time for a change?

These are but a few examples of how you might be working in a toxic culture. You’ll probably have your own and some are most likely unique to your organisation and it’s people. While an organisation can change it’s culture, it’s a hard ship to turn and the seas of change can be rough. First, the organisation has to recognise that there’s an issue with its culture and that it might have a toxic working environment. It needs to really listen to the issues its people face and address them in a way that brings meaningful and lasting change. It needs to support its people and empower them to say when something is wrong. It needs to firmly set out a new vision and ensure that all its people are living its values and behaviours. And, of course, it needs to have a culture built on a foundation of trust and respect with its people.

You don’t have to resign yourself to working in a toxic culture and nor should you. When it comes to your career you’re at the helm. You can choose to stick it out on rough seas hoping for the best or you can make a change for calmer more friendly waters. No one is wedded to a role or an organisation and you have choices about where you work, who you work for and what you will and won’t accept from the organisation you work for. Yes you have bills to pay, but it might just be time to brush up that CV and look for a new role.

As we part, let me tell you this: I recently sat with a very unhappy, upset and frustrated friend (they definitely hit 7 out of 7 on our list) who works in a toxic working culture and I’ll say to you what I said to her “like a love gone sour, you probably need to get out sooner rather than later.” I hope she takes this friendly advice.

Just remember, when it comes to a toxic working culture, It’s not me, it’s you.