Who's Responsible for a Toxic Workplace? If You Do Any of These 3 Things, Look in the Mirror. One in 10 U.S. workers says their workplace is toxic — but they might be part of the problem.
By Amanda Breen Edited by Jessica Thomas
Roughly one in 10 U.S. workers consider their workplace toxic, according to research conducted by MIT Sloan School of Management.
What's more, MIT's meta-analysis of thousands of studies of corporate culture reveals the best predictors of workplace toxicity, with leadership, social norms and work design rounding out the top three.
But another factor complicating it all?
People don't always understand how their behavior contributes to the unhealthy work environment they want to avoid, according to remote work expert and founder of Soprana Personnel International Diana Blažaitienė.
Related: Ever Notice the Similarities Between Toxic Business Leaders and Politicians?
That toxic behavior might start with management — but not always, Blažaitienė says. In some cases, lower-level employees might be fanning the flames without even realizing it.
"Many employees tend to attribute the issue to their leaders without stopping for a minute to consider whether they might be a part of the problem," Blažaitienė explains. "Every member of a team is responsible for creating an atmosphere that sparks productivity, goal realization, effort and teamwork."
To that end, Blažaitienė cautions against making several mistakes:
1. Not being proactive about eliminating toxicity
2. Reading too much into every interaction
3. Creating unnecessary competition with colleagues
"For those who identify toxic traits in their workplace behavior, the first step should be admitting to themselves why they are behaving like this," Blažaitienė says. "What's in it for them? Usually, the reason for such behavior is either low self-esteem or past traumas that have not been resolved."
Related: 5 Types of Toxic Employees and How to Deal With Them (Infographic)
Blažaitienė's advice for those who recognize their behavior and want to change it? Start with an apology — then focus on mindfulness: Pay attention to how you feel and what triggers you so you can control your behavior.
Additionally, stop avoiding conflicts, Blažaitienė says, and speak up when a situation's bothering you so you can collaborate on a solution.
One way to keep those lines of communication open? Ask your direct manager or team for regular evaluations and discussions, Blažaitienė suggests.
Being the change yourself is important, Blažaitienė adds, because your behavior will follow you to any workplace you ultimately go.
Still, Blažaitienė recognizes that toxicity can't always be resolved by looking within — sometimes, the larger systems at work make change unlikely.
Related: 4 Warning Signs That Your Job's Corporate Culture Is Broken and Why It Might Be Time to Leave
"As crucial as it is to start the changes within oneself to make the workplace productive rather than demotivating, employees should also be responsible for their mental well-being and identify when the toxic behavior originates from employers so that they can be vocal about it," Blažaitienė says.
