For majority of people, workplace is like their second home because they spend most of their waking hours there. They have to interact with their co-workers more than they do with their family. However, if you are not happy or satisfied with your work environment, it takes a toll on your mental health and can damage your self-esteem and even your friendships.
Even if you have your dream job, you are likely to experience some level of stress even on good days. Yes, you read it right. No matter what the nature of your job is, work stress is real. If you are unable to muster up the motivation to go to office or just the thought of working there makes you physically ill, depressed or exhausted like anything, then it is a clear sign that you are a part of a toxic work environment.
Are There Any Physical Signs of an Unhealthy or Toxic Work Environment?
An unhealthy workplace is defined as a job where the environment, management, work or people, not only shatter your confidence, but also cause some kind of serious disruption in your life. According to a research, 83% of US workers suffer due to stress at work. A toxic workplace can also negatively affect your physical health. The increased stress of working in a toxic work environment leads to fatigue, sleeplessness, job burnout, and depression.
If any of the aforementioned symptoms ring a bell with you, then it’s high time to evaluate your work environment to see what exactly is causing your mental and physical well-being to suffer. By consciously assessing the dysfunction of your workplace, you can find out if the situation is fixable or decide if you should consider moving on with your career because you should not be trapped in a hostile work environment.
Poor Communication
Do you feel like you are often left out of the loop when important information is shared in the office? Poor or no communication is one of the key characteristics of most of toxic workplaces. You may work really hard, but your boss takes credit for your accomplishments. No matter how much effort you put in, you are never appreciated for your hard work and dedication.
You don’t even get any positive feedback and recognition for your remarkable performance. When feedback is given, it’s mostly negative, harsh and not constructive. At times, you might even be told that you are lucky to have a job.
If any such thing happens, you should consider approaching the management or HR to have a detailed discussion regarding a lack of growth opportunities (such as raises, and promotions) and recognition. Yet if you see no changes, it may be time to hunt for a good job.
Narcissistic Leadership
If the higher-ups in your office always expect you to agree with them, then it’s a major red flag. That’s the thing about narcissistic workforce management that feels they’re above the rules and can never be wrong. Not only that, they expect everyone else to be perfect while they themselves are unable to meet high standards.
Everyone Has a Bad Attitude
Do you go to work and feel like everyone around you seems to be out for themselves? Is your workplace filled with rumors and gossips and there is no genuine friendships among employees? Moreover, there is no enthusiasm, not even a single employee comes in with a smile on their face or claims “I love this place or I love working in this environment,” then chances are, you are trapped in a hostile environment because of unhappiness and poor morale and it is a sure sign that you should flee very quickly.
What Should You Do Cope with Toxic Environment & Keep Your Sanity Intact?
If you feel that it’s just work and you have to deal with it for eight or nine hours because every office has a toxic environment, then this is not true. Not every workplace gives you the kind of stress that has a negative effect on your mental and physical wellbeing. So, if you find yourself working in a toxic workplace, you should know that the emotional weight can carry over into your personal life if it isn’t properly dealt with.
What can you do to cope with the situation? First, you should approach the office management and ask them to fix the problem as quickly as possible. If they fail to do so, you should start looking for a better job. Also try to have some fun by enjoying something like phone casinos or other games to ease the pain. Since it is beyond impossible to walk away from this difficult situation immediately so here is what you can do to address the toxic work environment in the meantime:
Make a to-do list to keep yourself busy
The first thing you need to do in the morning is to create a to-do list. The list is likely to help you stay focused on your tasks instead of the negative/toxic environment of the workplace, making it possible for you to keep going every day. You can also have some fun with options like https://s-bobet.com to help keep your mind engaged.
Try finding people who are in the same situation as you
Focus on developing friendships with people who are in the same boat as you. It is one of the best ways to have each other’s back and you won’t feel alone in the office.
Consider indulging yourself in something after work that can help relieve stress
Do you do something after work that makes you happy? If not, then you should consider doing that. You can either do home chores or go to the gym. Also, you can take online classes to learn a new skill, just ensure you are connected to spectrum internet to make the learning endeavor successful. This is arguably an effective way to lead a fulfilling life outside of work to combat the drama of your 9 to 5 job.
Ending Note
Improving the difficult situation at work is possible. You just have to ask HR or the higher management to fix the issues. In case, nothing works out, you can start hunting for a new job. This is the only way to focus on the positivity when things get rough.