Five Tips For Handling Workplace Toxicity

How do you handle a toxic work environment? What do you do when a colleague’s behaviour is becoming a serious problem?

Answering these questions is never easy and there’s rarely a clean solution where nobody’s feelings get hurt. That said, when you have a problem, it’s always better to take a proactive approach. That’s why we’ve put together this list of five tips to help you decide what to do next.

Assess the Severity

Handling a toxic work environment can be complicated and is often highly situational. Up front, we want to be clear that the right approach depends a lot on the specifics of your situation and how severe the problem is.

It’s also important to note that there’s no objective scale on which you can measure workplace toxicity. What’s toxic for one person might not be for another. Of course, some things are going to be problems no matter who you are, but other issues won’t be universal.

All of this to say that when you’re assessing what to do about the problem and how strong a reaction to take, remember that the most important measure is how you feel.

Does the problem make you miserable at work? Do those feelings extend into your off-work hours? Does it get in the way of your ability to do your job?

And, the most important question of all, is this situation really sustainable for you?

Prepare a Statement

Now, when it comes to actually dealing with toxic work colleagues, your first step should probably be to tell them one way or another. Of course, this does depend on the severity of their behaviour, but in many cases people acting out of line simply don’t realise that fact until they’re told.

That said, if the idea of confronting someone makes you so nervous you’ll forget what you’re saying, then don’t be afraid to prepare a statement in advance. Try to get your words clear in your head and pinpoint the exact issue. If possible, try to frame the problem as a practical one and not a personal one.

All the same, if you choose to speak with them, also be prepared for the possibility that they will ignore you or even escalate their behaviour. And, if that happens, then you’ll want to move on to tip #3.

Speak to the Boss/HR

Going to HR is never pleasant but there are times when you simply need an intermediary. By the same token, if you feel more comfortable doing so, then it might be better to speak with your boss.

What’s important is that if one person’s behaviour is causing problems for you, then you have the right to express that to your company. If your company refuses to listen then you really have to consider further escalation.

Share Your Experience 

Nobody wants to be branded as the office gossip but there can be a real value in discreetly sharing your experiences with others.

Most workplace toxicity isn’t about singling one person out for harassment but rather the result of an ongoing problem. Sometimes it’s a confluence of factors but a lot of the time it’s just one person who either doesn’t know or doesn’t care about the impact of their actions.

When you discuss these problems with your colleagues you can get a better sense of the pattern of behaviour. If the problem is affecting other people as well that gives you a stronger case to make.

When all’s said and done, staying silent doesn’t help anybody. A lot of the time, solving your problems is as simple as finding the right person to talk to.

Know When to Cut Your Losses

A lot of the time… but not always.

When we talk about how to handle a toxic work environment, it’s easy to place the responsibility on you. After all, you’re the one who’s experiencing the problem so you’re the one who needs to deal with it.

That mindset can be practical but it can also be deeply unhealthy – especially if you’re stuck in a situation with no clear way out. The reality is that as much as there are methods to handle toxic people at work, sometimes those methods just aren’t enough. Sometimes taking responsibility for a situation you didn’t cause can only make you feel guilty. Sometimes you just have to cut your losses and leave.

It’s easy to get attached to a job. If you like the work you do and you feel proud of your career, then it’s easy to feel like no other job could quite live up to it. In a way that may be true but there are always new experiences around the corner and other jobs that could be just as satisfying if never quite the same.

When all’s said and done, if your job is making you miserable, then it doesn’t deserve you anymore. No matter how it might seem, no matter how you might feel, there’s always another job out there that will appreciate you and your unique talents.