The average American will spend the majority of their life at work.
Research reveals that on average, a person will spend more than 90,000 hours of their life working or being at work. That’s almost a third of their entire life.
Seeing that a person will be spending the majority of their life, if not more at work, ensuring healthy workplace relationships with coworkers and more importantly employers can be vital to an employee’s mental health. This is especially true in high-demanding fast-paced working environments.
If there is one important lesson that has come from the global pandemic, which had sent employees into overdrive, it is that many workers now value the importance of a healthy and thriving workplace environment, more than higher pay or other types of work-related benefits.
In a recent Pew Research Center survey, a majority of workers who quit their jobs in 2021 cited low pay (63%), no opportunities for advancement (63%), and feeling disrespected at work (57%) as the main reasons why they quit their jobs.
Additionally, four in ten American workers (39%) said that they quit their job because they were working too many hours.
These figures paint a vivid picture of the American workforce and labor market. Navigating these challenges are becoming increasingly challenging against the backdrop of uncertain economic conditions, financial hardships and changing consumer buying and real estate investment behavior amid higher inflation and skyrocketing interest rates.
On top of that, employers are still facing a tight labor market, caused by the pandemic and led by the Great Resignation. Now another new workplace trend – quiet quitting – has now taken over social media in recent months.
While quiet quitting refers more to employees doing the bare minimum, instead of leaving their jobs, a Gallup study found that more than 50% or half of the American workforce are quiet quitters.
Employees are more disengaged than ever before. During the second quarter of the year, the number of engaged workers remained at 32%, while the proportion of actively disengaged workers increased to 18%, marking the lowest employee engagement in more than a decade.
Reasons for being disconnected are far and wide and differ from each employee and the industry they work in. In the same breath, employees are still citing that toxic workplaces and pushy employers are leaving them to quit, rather than resolve any work-related issues.
In 2021, researchers analyzed more than 1.4 million Glassdoor reviews from nearly 600 major American companies, only to conclude that employees describe toxic workplace environments in five ways – non-inclusive, disrespectful, unethical, cutthroat, and abusive.
Similarly, a recent article published on HuffPost closely looked at the common traits a toxic boss tends to have, especially towards new employees or a new working environment.
According to HuffPost, traits such as favoritism, disregard for employee wellbeing, self-appraisal, enjoyment of gossip, and ignoring their employees are all but a few of the common red flags one can pick up in a toxic boss.
While there are no direct links between the description of toxic workplaces and toxic bosses, they do however share a sense of commonality between each other.
Whether we are scared to admit it or have been propagated to believe that our toxic bosses and work environments are normal, it’s time that we start addressing these issues, sooner rather than later.
Not only is having a healthy relationship with an employer important for your mental health, but it’s also a crucial aspect that can influence your job performance and your career.
In the following list, we will briefly look at the several ways in which you can deal with a toxic boss and overcome the anxiety-induced emotions that you experience when encountering their presence daily.
Decide to stay or go
The first step in dealing with your toxic employer is by evaluating the situation and deciding whether the situation is making you feel trapped. If you notice that your work is being affected, and also your moods, then it might be time to reevaluate your position and decide whether you should stay or go.
At first, it might not sound that easy, but in reality, it’s a lot easier to quit your job than having to continuously deal with toxic behavior that’s not only influencing you but also your coworkers. On the other hand, if you do decide to stay, then it’s important to develop some coping mechanisms or work through the issues with your employer or any other colleagues that might share the same feeling.
Avoid the drama
Office drama and politics are common in the workplace, although in an office among toxic employers that create drama, it’s easy for employees to become involved in this drama without them knowing it.
Having a professional mindset, and keeping true to your core values will help disassociate yourself from the drama, especially if it’s coming from your employer. Set clear, yet meaningful boundaries, and refrain from taking part in office gossip. It might be difficult, but keep things “strictly professional” at all times, and try to not let negative behaviors influence your work and attitude.
Address the problem
Perhaps a step in the right direction, but it’s always best to address the problem. Doing so will not only make the issue clear to the other person, but it will also create an open dialogue through which other employees can contribute.
If you feel that your employer is shutting you out, or not willing to work on any of the problems, see who is next in line that can help you. Approach your human resources manager, or speak to your supervisor or line manager for advice. If they are not being helpful, take some time to consider your place in the business and whether you are being valued at all.
Addressing the issue might make things a bit harder for you, at first, but it’s better to clear the air of toxic and negative behavior right from the start than to have it linger.
It’s work, try not to take it personal
It’s hard to first start thinking like this, but remember that at the end of the day it’s just a job, and it doesn’t define you as an individual or person.
On top of this, remember that it’s just a job and that there are hundreds, if not thousands of similar jobs available if you feel the need to resign or quit. Try not to take every single thing as a personal insult or direct slander, but be thorough and respectful towards yourself and others if the occasion does present itself.
Try not to let everything get under your skin, but also have the self-respect to stand up for yourself or another employee when needed. Just keep in mind that you are replaceable and that your job shouldn’t define you.
Keep tabs on your employer
It might feel strange keeping a record of your employer’s behavior, but if you ever find yourself in the direct line of inappropriate behavior, you can use the records as a detailed personal experience that can help to support your case.
Keeping a record of your employer’s behavior will not only help you but will also come in handy when you are asked to corroborate an employee complaint against your employer.
The best way to support your case is to save any documents, communications, and letters that can indicate a pattern of toxic behavior. Having vague records or third-party accounts can do little to support your case, so you must have thorough records that can prove toxic behavior patterns.
Find a stress reliever
A smart way to deal with a toxic boss, and a toxic work environment is to find something that can help you unwind and destress. We all have that one thing we enjoy doing after punching in an eight or nine-hour shift, and to ensure you cope with higher levels of stress take some time to completely switch off from work and work-related issues.
Whether it’s exercise or taking your dogs for a walk, maybe it’s even doing something small like baking, cooking, or having a drink with a friend every now and again, make time for yourself as well.
Although this doesn’t necessarily resolve the direct issue at hand of having to deal with your toxic employer, it does however help you to unwind, relax and loosen any tension you may have cropped up in your mind and body. Every day, after work, make time for yourself, regardless of what it is you’re doing, you need to take care of yourself first.
Plan your exit strategy
There is a chance that things might change, but there is also the possibility of it staying the same, maybe even getting worse in the near future only to cause you more anxiety and stress.
As you wait out to see how the scenario will unfold, start planning your exit strategy. Start by looking for a new job, and networking with friends outside of work that can help you land a new job somewhere else.
If it looks as if the situation is only intensifying, pushing you to resign on the limb, look for a bridge job that can help sustain you financially between leaving and entering a new job. Always make sure to leave on good terms, even if you feel that having to leave has nothing to do with your level of competency or professionalism.
Final thoughts
Having to deal with a toxic boss is perhaps harder than having to endure a toxic and disrespectful colleague. A toxic employer does not only make an impact on their employees but the work environment as a whole, affecting employee attitude and behavior. This can have a direct impact on how employees work with customers and each other.
As there are several ways in which you can deal with a toxic employer, make sure to look after your personal well-being along the way as well. It doesn’t help to constantly look for ways to resolve toxic behavior only to push yourself to feel more stressed and burned out. Make time for yourself, and if situations deteriorate faster plan an exit strategy. Most importantly, be professional and don’t let toxic behavior derail your career.
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This Post is republished on Medium.
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Photo credit: Shutterstock