HOW BAD IS A TOXIC WORK CULTURE?
The phrase ‘toxic work
culture’ has become increasingly common. A toxic environment is characterized
by negativity, dysfunction, and a lack of trust. In addition, high employee
turnover and a lack of work-life balance can also cause a toxic culture. One
thing is certain—a toxic work culture is bad for business in many ways.
Toxic workplaces can have a
hugely negative impact on both individual employees and the organizations as a
whole. Employees who are subjected to a toxic workplace culture are more likely
to suffer from stress, anxiety, and depression. A Columbia University study
found that the probability of job turnover in organizations with low company
culture was 48.4%.
The tragic death of Anna
Sebastian Peril, a chartered accountant, aged 26-year-old at a leading
accounting firm, namely Ernst & Young (EY), has sparked a heated debate on
corporate work environment and employee welfare. Her parents have alleged that
the “high work pressure” at the new job hurt her health and ultimately led to
her death.
EY has denied these
allegations. It says that Anna was given the same work as other employees, so
they do not believe that her death was due to work pressure. However, the
incident has ignited a controversy over the 'hustle culture' promoted in most
corporate offices and start-ups, in which employees are often forced to work at
the cost of their health to increase productivity.
Another incident happened
in HDFC Bank's Vibhutikhand branch in Gomti Nagar, Lucknow where Sadaf Fatima,
Additional Deputy Vice President suddenly fell from the chair. The employees
immediately took her to the hospital, where the doctors declared her dead. As
per reports, some of their colleagues hinted that she had been under
significant work pressure.
It
is true work pressure is so high in the corporate world. Management often puts
excessive work pressure on employees, and this affects the quality of life. It
is often seen that employees work till late at night and even on weekly
holidays.
A toxic work culture causes
a lot of harm to a business. Even though it may not be visible directly, it
indirectly affects the efficiency of the employees. It reduces productivity,
demoralizes the employees, makes it difficult to attract talent, and ultimately
affects the company's profits.
Work stress is not limited
to India only but it has its effect in other countries too.
India leads the global
average in workplace toxicity. China, Japan, and Australia are lagging behind.
One of the companies based in China's Guangzhou forced employees to do unusual
practices at the office.
Japan's workplace culture
can be toxic due to long hours, high pressure, and a rigid hierarchy.
Nearly 25% of Japanese companies expect employees to work at least 80 hours of
overtime per month.
Research conducted for SEEK
found that almost half (45%) of Australians had been forced to leave their job
because of toxicity. Toxic behavior within teams can be difficult to spot, but
there are telltale signs, says Steindl.
In Brazil, workplace stress
is a significant issue, which is attributed to many factors such as burnout,
mental health, working conditions, the social image of the organization, the
work environment, and the autonomy and participation given to the individual at
work.
Employees
working under stress are not just a problem in the countries mentioned above;
workers in the remaining countries are also affected by it.
According to recent
data, approximately 25% of US employees report feeling apprehensive about
going to work and do not feel comfortable expressing their opinions regarding
work-related matters, indicating a significant issue with workplace culture and
employee voice within the country.
There is a need to improve
work culture and give top priority to the 'health' of employees.
Work culture can be
influenced by leadership styles, communication, daily practices, and company
policies. A positive work culture can help improve employee retention,
productivity, engagement, and talent acquisition.
A good environment helps
you to concentrate more on your goals. A dedicated workspace free of
distractions can help you stay focused and absorb information more effectively.
A tidy, calm environment can help reduce anxiety.
By creating workplaces that
facilitate health and well-being, organizations can expect higher productivity,
which often translates into greater revenue.
Some examples of positive
work cultures include Google and Hub Spot, which prioritize employee wellbeing,
open communication, and a clear mission. In extreme cases, toxic workplace
behaviors can lead to legal action from employees.
What do people think about
toxic work culture?
One user said that the work
culture in India is terrible. Salaries are the lowest and exploitation is the
highest. Employers who regularly harass their employees mercilessly have no
fear of consequences and no remorse.
He added that Interns are
burdened with excessive workloads, given unrealistic timelines, and humiliated
during reviews.
According to a report, a
former EY employee also criticized the firm's work culture and alleged that
employees are often "mocked" for going home on time and
"shamed" for taking weekly offs.
Another user believes that
constant demands and pressure to achieve impossible targets are not
sustainable.
In October last year,
Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy faced severe criticism for saying that
Indian youth should work 70 hours a week for the country's economic progress.
More and more company heads
believe that youngsters should not complain about working hours, but rather
recruits should be prepared to work 18 hours a day in the first four or five
years of their career.
Our work and our workplace
can have a significant impact on our mental health.
A lot of research has come
out over the last decade showing that our work and our workplace can have a
significant impact on our mental health. A toxic workplace is the primary
reason employees quit their jobs.
Companies
with a toxic workplace reputation face more difficulty in attracting top
candidates. Toxic environments can create feelings of distrust and negativity
among employees, affecting their overall job satisfaction and engagement.
Employees in toxic
environments are more likely to seek a change of company rather than be happy
working, which disrupts team dynamics.
By taking a few select
steps, you can begin creating a positive and productive work environment for
your employees and your business.
To establish a healthy
culture, the corporate world should encourage open communication between its
employees and management so that problems can be resolved better by building
trust through transparency.
Help them visualize their
future direction. Visualizing desired outcomes can strengthen a person's
emotional connection to their goals.
Visualization can improve a
person's mood and sense of well-being and also help people to reduce
help. This has a positive impact on them.
In
addition, companies must double down on their work culture. However, to do so
they must understand the root of the problem.
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