Dragging yourself out of bed to go to work every morning? Feeling overwhelmed by the demands made on you? Gossip and office politics sapping your spirit?
These can be signs of a toxic work environment, according to experts Laura Griffin and Fiona O’Malley.
Laura is a career consultant with Griffin Career Consulting and her clients include workers who are considering leaving their job because of toxic behaviours, and may also be on stress leave.
Fiona O’Malley is CEO of the mental health charity Turn2Me and many that are seeking their online counselling services are also experiencing workplace stress.
Both mention a list of toxic workplace traits that can impact on workers’ self-esteem and confidence. These include: gas lighting, micromanaging, unreasonable workloads, bullying, belittling, side-lining and lack of praise, resources and support.
The most typical scenario Laura sees with clients is them saying: ‘I’m really struggling in this workplace but I don’t feel I’m here long enough to make a move yet and I don’t know what to do.’
“Gaslighting [psychological manipulation over a period of time] is very common,” Laura says.
“What I frequently hear from my clients is that they have put in a lot of work and effort but their manager is taking credit for it. If things go wrong, they are blamed also. It can be an, ‘I can’t win’ situation which can really undermine someone’s confidence.”
Micromanaging can be an issue too.
“This is one of the most damaging workplace behaviours,” Fiona says, “It stifles creativity and initiative and leads to stress and burnout.”
Laura agrees, “I had a lady last week saying that the most minor document she is working on would come back with a number of corrections. If you’ve someone picking at every little thing you do, it completely undermines your ability and your credibility. It can become a self-fulfilling prophecy, too, because you start to doubt yourself and you do start to make mistakes.”
Office politics can also be difficult to navigate.
“Some workplaces can be almost like a schoolyard with very immature behaviour,” she says.
“You can have people in groups making others feeling ostracised. Simple things like constantly being excluded from a walk to the coffee shop can impact people.”
Unreasonable workloads
Fiona O'Malley, CEO, Turn2Me.
Unreasonable workloads are another unfortunate workplace trait.
“This is a toxic practice,” says Fiona. “When the demand for productivity exceeds the capacity of the workforce, it not only diminishes the quality of work but also places immense pressure on employees.”
Laura, in her work with clients, finds that flattery is often used to get people to take on extra responsibilty without remuneration.
“They hear things like: ‘because you do such a great job, we’re going to give you this new project.’ It is highlighted like a promotion but there is no financial benefit.
“Management just don’t want to spend the money on replacing the person who has left.”
So what can you do if you are experiencing this workplace behaviour?
Do you ignore it? Leave the job? Stand up for yourself?
Firstly, Fiona suggests setting clear boundaries from the time you start a new job.
“This is really important to protect your mental health. It can include turning off your work phone at the weekend so you are not available 24/7.
“You should also limit your engagement with toxic behaviours and avoid unnecessary conflict. It’s important to clearly communicate your workload capacity right from the start.”
She also recommends prioritising the tasks that align with your role and avoiding over-extending yourself to appease others in a negative environment.
“Setting boundaries is absolutely crucial for maintaining our emotional resilience in challenging or toxic workplaces,” she explains.
Personal details
Laura Griffin of Griffin Career Consultancy.
Meanwhile, Laura suggests being selective about what personal information you share at work.
“You spend a lot of time each week with these people but ask yourself, are they colleagues or friends? Disclosing too much personal details can come back to bite you sometimes.
“Gossip can be prevalent in a toxic workplace and ideally it’s better not to get wrapped up in that at any stage.”
She also suggests being factual about any toxic incident that happens.
“You need to put up that matter of fact front to protect yourself. Identify your role clearly and keep on top of that. After that it’s about trying to not let all that external noise get into your head.
“Boundaries are also important. While you want to be flexible within reason, if employers are constantly contacting you out of hours, for example, politely say: ‘my contract states this’.”
Gossip can be prevalent in a toxic workplace and ideally it’s better not to get wrapped up in that at any stage
Laura also advocates writing things down.
“I recommend two separate notebooks,” she says. “One for the negatives and one for positives. In the negative notebook, factually detail the incidents that have happened in case you need them later. Writing the negative things down also helps to get it out of your head and ease the stress.
“In the other notebook, keep it positive. Regularly writing down your strengths and how you’ve added value to the organisation will build your confidence.
“Being able to show that you have added value in a workplace is often what it comes down to.”
Fiona adds, “Document all incidents of bullying, harassment or unfair treatment and note the dates, times and specific details and locations.
“Having clear evidence will ensure that your concerns are taken seriously if you decide to report them. It will also help to protect you in the case of retaliation.”
She also suggests forwarding any abusive emails on to your personal email in case they disappear.
“It’s unlikely but it’s always good to be prepared,” she says.
Frying pan to fire
While clients speak of changing jobs when they experience a toxic workplaces, Laura’s advice is to take things very slowly.
“One of first things I would say is try not to jump out of the frying pan into the fire,” she says.
“If you are too quick making that decision, you could make the wrong one and end up in a worse scenario. Try to be focused and strategic in your thinking. Don’t let one person or workplace derail your life and career.”
In her experience some people will put a pivoting strategy in place. This is where you plan a purposeful change. Others will leave the job because it is impacting their mental health but some people do go back to work successfully.
“Career coaching helps address toxic work issues because it assists people in identifying their strengths,” she says. “It’s about drilling into how they succeeded before and how they can leverage that. This helps to rebuild confidence and self-esteem.”
It’s about taking the long-term view sometimes, she adds.
“If someone has worked a long time to get into a position and now they are being treated poorly, particularly if it is just one person in the organisation, you have to think ‘if I leave and in six months’ time that manager moves to a different department, then I’ve cut off my nose to spite my face’. It’s about trying to figure out what’s within your control and what you can do about it from there.”
Laura does advise, however, that if a person’s mental health is severely affected, career consultants will refer clients for counselling via the list available on the Irish Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (IACP) website.
Fiona recommends seeking support first and then changing jobs if your mental health is being seriously affected.
“Explore support from trusted mentors or external professionals like a counsellor initially.
“However, if the toxicity persists despite all these efforts, then it may be the time to start exploring alternative job opportunities. You have to think of your health.”
If you are having problems in work, it is important to consult your company workplace policy and keep a log of issues, including the date.Contact your HR department. Explain the situation and see if positive steps can be taken to help identify, address, and remedy the causes of a toxic work environment.turn2me.ie says Irish residents are entitled to six free counselling sessions in which they can discuss problems in the workplace. Visit turn2me.ie/services/one-to-one-counselling/. Online registration is required.Visit iacp.ie to find a list of accredited counsellors and psychotherapists.Visit griffincareerconsultancy.ie for more advice or to seek professional help. Read more
'Choose the contraception method that’s right for you'
Keep asthma at bay and breathe easy this winter
Dragging yourself out of bed to go to work every morning? Feeling overwhelmed by the demands made on you? Gossip and office politics sapping your spirit?
These can be signs of a toxic work environment, according to experts Laura Griffin and Fiona O’Malley.
Laura is a career consultant with Griffin Career Consulting and her clients include workers who are considering leaving their job because of toxic behaviours, and may also be on stress leave.
Fiona O’Malley is CEO of the mental health charity Turn2Me and many that are seeking their online counselling services are also experiencing workplace stress.
Both mention a list of toxic workplace traits that can impact on workers’ self-esteem and confidence. These include: gas lighting, micromanaging, unreasonable workloads, bullying, belittling, side-lining and lack of praise, resources and support.
The most typical scenario Laura sees with clients is them saying: ‘I’m really struggling in this workplace but I don’t feel I’m here long enough to make a move yet and I don’t know what to do.’
“Gaslighting [psychological manipulation over a period of time] is very common,” Laura says.
“What I frequently hear from my clients is that they have put in a lot of work and effort but their manager is taking credit for it. If things go wrong, they are blamed also. It can be an, ‘I can’t win’ situation which can really undermine someone’s confidence.”
Micromanaging can be an issue too.
“This is one of the most damaging workplace behaviours,” Fiona says, “It stifles creativity and initiative and leads to stress and burnout.”
Laura agrees, “I had a lady last week saying that the most minor document she is working on would come back with a number of corrections. If you’ve someone picking at every little thing you do, it completely undermines your ability and your credibility. It can become a self-fulfilling prophecy, too, because you start to doubt yourself and you do start to make mistakes.”
Office politics can also be difficult to navigate.
“Some workplaces can be almost like a schoolyard with very immature behaviour,” she says.
“You can have people in groups making others feeling ostracised. Simple things like constantly being excluded from a walk to the coffee shop can impact people.”
Unreasonable workloads
Fiona O'Malley, CEO, Turn2Me.
Unreasonable workloads are another unfortunate workplace trait.
“This is a toxic practice,” says Fiona. “When the demand for productivity exceeds the capacity of the workforce, it not only diminishes the quality of work but also places immense pressure on employees.”
Laura, in her work with clients, finds that flattery is often used to get people to take on extra responsibilty without remuneration.
“They hear things like: ‘because you do such a great job, we’re going to give you this new project.’ It is highlighted like a promotion but there is no financial benefit.
“Management just don’t want to spend the money on replacing the person who has left.”
So what can you do if you are experiencing this workplace behaviour?
Do you ignore it? Leave the job? Stand up for yourself?
Firstly, Fiona suggests setting clear boundaries from the time you start a new job.
“This is really important to protect your mental health. It can include turning off your work phone at the weekend so you are not available 24/7.
“You should also limit your engagement with toxic behaviours and avoid unnecessary conflict. It’s important to clearly communicate your workload capacity right from the start.”
She also recommends prioritising the tasks that align with your role and avoiding over-extending yourself to appease others in a negative environment.
“Setting boundaries is absolutely crucial for maintaining our emotional resilience in challenging or toxic workplaces,” she explains.
Personal details
Laura Griffin of Griffin Career Consultancy.
Meanwhile, Laura suggests being selective about what personal information you share at work.
“You spend a lot of time each week with these people but ask yourself, are they colleagues or friends? Disclosing too much personal details can come back to bite you sometimes.
“Gossip can be prevalent in a toxic workplace and ideally it’s better not to get wrapped up in that at any stage.”
She also suggests being factual about any toxic incident that happens.
“You need to put up that matter of fact front to protect yourself. Identify your role clearly and keep on top of that. After that it’s about trying to not let all that external noise get into your head.
“Boundaries are also important. While you want to be flexible within reason, if employers are constantly contacting you out of hours, for example, politely say: ‘my contract states this’.”
Gossip can be prevalent in a toxic workplace and ideally it’s better not to get wrapped up in that at any stage
Laura also advocates writing things down.
“I recommend two separate notebooks,” she says. “One for the negatives and one for positives. In the negative notebook, factually detail the incidents that have happened in case you need them later. Writing the negative things down also helps to get it out of your head and ease the stress.
“In the other notebook, keep it positive. Regularly writing down your strengths and how you’ve added value to the organisation will build your confidence.
“Being able to show that you have added value in a workplace is often what it comes down to.”
Fiona adds, “Document all incidents of bullying, harassment or unfair treatment and note the dates, times and specific details and locations.
“Having clear evidence will ensure that your concerns are taken seriously if you decide to report them. It will also help to protect you in the case of retaliation.”
She also suggests forwarding any abusive emails on to your personal email in case they disappear.
“It’s unlikely but it’s always good to be prepared,” she says.
Frying pan to fire
While clients speak of changing jobs when they experience a toxic workplaces, Laura’s advice is to take things very slowly.
“One of first things I would say is try not to jump out of the frying pan into the fire,” she says.
“If you are too quick making that decision, you could make the wrong one and end up in a worse scenario. Try to be focused and strategic in your thinking. Don’t let one person or workplace derail your life and career.”
In her experience some people will put a pivoting strategy in place. This is where you plan a purposeful change. Others will leave the job because it is impacting their mental health but some people do go back to work successfully.
“Career coaching helps address toxic work issues because it assists people in identifying their strengths,” she says. “It’s about drilling into how they succeeded before and how they can leverage that. This helps to rebuild confidence and self-esteem.”
It’s about taking the long-term view sometimes, she adds.
“If someone has worked a long time to get into a position and now they are being treated poorly, particularly if it is just one person in the organisation, you have to think ‘if I leave and in six months’ time that manager moves to a different department, then I’ve cut off my nose to spite my face’. It’s about trying to figure out what’s within your control and what you can do about it from there.”
Laura does advise, however, that if a person’s mental health is severely affected, career consultants will refer clients for counselling via the list available on the Irish Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (IACP) website.
Fiona recommends seeking support first and then changing jobs if your mental health is being seriously affected.
“Explore support from trusted mentors or external professionals like a counsellor initially.
“However, if the toxicity persists despite all these efforts, then it may be the time to start exploring alternative job opportunities. You have to think of your health.”
If you are having problems in work, it is important to consult your company workplace policy and keep a log of issues, including the date.Contact your HR department. Explain the situation and see if positive steps can be taken to help identify, address, and remedy the causes of a toxic work environment.turn2me.ie says Irish residents are entitled to six free counselling sessions in which they can discuss problems in the workplace. Visit turn2me.ie/services/one-to-one-counselling/. Online registration is required.Visit iacp.ie to find a list of accredited counsellors and psychotherapists.Visit griffincareerconsultancy.ie for more advice or to seek professional help. Read more
'Choose the contraception method that’s right for you'
Keep asthma at bay and breathe easy this winter
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