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“Death by a thousand cuts.” That’s what microaggressions feel like to the affected individual. Read on to learn how to recognize and stop the indignities from happening in your workplace. What are Microaggressions? Dr. Derald Wing Sue, a Columbia University professor and pioneer in the field of cross-cultural studies, defines microaggressions as “brief and commonplace […]
Chances are you have encountered a narcissistic coworker or boss at some point in your career. This is a person who constantly shifts attention back to himself or herself, discounts your ideas to present his or her own, or is continually name-dropping or bragging about his or her credentials to impress people. Toxic and dysfunctional […]
The National Football League (NFL) recently levied a $10 million fine against the Washington Football Team (WFT) for fostering a workplace culture loaded with sexual harassment, bullying, and intimidation. The fine, imposed at the end of a months-long investigation, is one of the harshest penalties the league has ever assessed. The money will be used […]
Colloquialisms about “sweatshops” and being “worked to the bone” by an employer are, of course, hyperbolic if taken anywhere near literally, at least in the United States, which has a robust set of laws and regulations aimed at preventing the exploitation of workers. Nevertheless, it is certainly true that the cultures of many companies tacitly […]
For many, one of the bright spots of the COVID-19 pandemic has been the ability to work from home for the last year. In addition to the greater flexibility and shorter commute, many employees hoped for some relief from toxic workplaces. Workplace Toxicity Follows Employees Home Unfortunately, and surprisingly, many victims of a toxic workplace […]
Unfortunately, it doesn’t take much for an otherwise decent workplace to turn toxic. Employees who toxify a workplace often do so through workplace communications. A recent survey examined trends among such communication and found something disturbing: People of color bear the brunt of toxic workplace communications.
“Ignore them and they will go away” was advice that I heard about bullies when I was a kid (and about teeth by one snarky dentist). Whether that approach works or not, that certainly seems to be what fellow employees do most often to their toxic co-workers. Recent research shows that 44% of respondents say […]
According to some experts, competition can be a positive thing inside the workplace, encouraging employees to problem solve and be more innovative and creative. Yet others claim that unmonitored competition can lead to a toxic workplace where workers are constantly stressed, fatigued, backstabbing one another, and so on.
It’s undeniable that business leaders—whether the CEO, leaders of business units, or department heads—have a large influence on the environment of the workplace they run. The leader sets the expectations, sets the tone, and sets an example for how employees throughout the organization or department should behave and what qualities the company looks for in […]
Most of us have had to deal with rude, toxic, or just unpleasant employees or coworkers at some point in our careers. But what happens when unpleasant employees aren’t just our coworkers—they’re our bosses? This is, unfortunately, not an uncommon situation for many workers.