What Are Signs of a Toxic Workplace?

[Anonymous]

In all honesty a clear sign is really high employee turnover. I worked at a job where we used to make cracks about the show Survivor. It was extremely rare to meet anyone who lasted more than three years there.

[Anonymous]

Paranoia. Worked at a place where after the big meetings people had a secret chat group on gmail on their phones where people asked all their WTF questions. So if there are established back channels or people speak in code that’s bad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When a boss feels threatened by those working for her and, consequently, puts them down, yells at them, bullies them.

When the boss is ugly and wants to get back at the world for it. Writing people up, punishing employees, threatening employees, accusing them of things they did not do, telling people how horrible their work is when it is not, ripping work away from employees so they can do it themselves, just a real piece of human shit with giant twin age spots.

[Anonymous]

Sign of a toxic workplace is when it's so bad you have to go to an online forum to post your question. In all seriousness, though, I'm sure it must be hard right now. Try to find some ways to cope that are healthy while you look for another role.

[Anonymous]

We're family here...
I've applied to 3 families this week.

[Anonymous]

DOE Office of the Chief Information Officer. All things mentioned here and then some
Back channel meetings during the meetings for the "WTF" conversations. High turnover. Backstabbing and undermining by leadership. Contractors wagging the tail of the fed dog. In office, doors closed most of the time when on premises. Ethics nightmares abound. Leadership cares more about airliine and hotel status/points than the actual mission. Literally killing good workers while promoting incompetence.

[Anonymous]

Management appoints multiple people as acting successors to a departing manager, with the intention that they battle for dominance among themselves.

This is internally referred to as “Game of Thrones,” including by the principal responsible for making the appointments.

[Anonymous]

If you hear someone's name come up a lot - like a VP or similar level that they have to "check with" about everything. 9/10 that person will be a PIA and will be driving everyone around them crazy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Management appoints multiple people as acting successors to a departing manager, with the intention that they battle for dominance among themselves.

This is internally referred to as “Game of Thrones,” including by the principal responsible for making the appointments.

They did this at my last job with one department. Made the directors battle it out for the fired vp’s job. The guy who won the battle? They told him later he was going to be in charge and have all the responsibilities but would still be a director, and paid like one. Because he was a pushiver he accepted it, which they knew he’d do all along

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Management appoints multiple people as acting successors to a departing manager, with the intention that they battle for dominance among themselves.

This is internally referred to as “Game of Thrones,” including by the principal responsible for making the appointments.

They did this at my last job with one department. Made the directors battle it out for the fired vp’s job. The guy who won the battle? They told him later he was going to be in charge and have all the responsibilities but would still be a director, and paid like one. Because he was a pushiver he accepted it, which they knew he’d do all along

Yikes

[Anonymous]

So many things in this thread describe my current workplace. Been here 18 months and starting to look around already.

[Anonymous]

Me too. Gotta get out.

[Anonymous]

Long hours for sure.
Work emergencies happen from time to time, but consistent long hours meant poor leadership or understaffed, both are toxic.

[Anonymous]

When people have to be monitored with badging requirements

When cruel people get promoted with pervasive cronyism

When your financial officers literally cannot balance sheets

[Anonymous]

If you drive to an interview and see people crying alone in their car in the company parking lot, it’s probably not a good sign. Or if you stop by the restroom on your way to an interview and you hear quiet sobbing, that might be a sign. Not a definite sign, but something to notice.