Workplace expert reveals red flags that your office is toxic: ‘Five signs that ring true’

That kind of environment just won’t work.

An expert has revealed the red flags that signal a toxic office culture – and how to avoid those types of workplaces.

According to Nina Nesdoly, a work stress and prevention expert from Ottawa, Canada, there are five traits of a toxic work environment, which include cutthroat or unethical behavior.

Speaking to Southwest News Service, Nesdoly, 31, referred to MIT Sloan’s Management Review, which identified “five telltale signs” of a toxic workplace, according to their extensive analysis of Glassdoor reviews.

“These were disrespect, non-inclusive, unethical, cut-throat behavior and abuse,” she told SWNS.

To identify and open from those undesirable jobs, Nesdoly said to read employee reviews of companies on sites like Glassdoor to gather an understanding of the office culture.

“For examples of a non-inclusive environment, we’re looking for examples like nepotism, age discrimination and racial inequality,” she explained.

If applicants reach the job interview stage of the hiring process, future jobs should prepare questions to ask the interviewer. Nesdoly advised asking about the environment and work/life balance.

“The third is to say what you’re looking for if your interviewer asks how you manage stress,” she said.

“If you say you’re a hard worker, you play a hard person, you’re going to be there for 75 hours a week, throw all your needs out the window, that’s going to put you in a very different environment than if you say you manage Stress going out, asking for help, or connecting with family members. “

But if employees already find themselves in a suboptimal situation at work, Nesdoly recommended two different solutions, depending on the scenario.

“Identify toxic traits and see if it’s toxicity you’re dealing with or elements of high workload or demand that need to be addressed,” she said, adding that talking to a boss or someone in human resources would be the first step. next step action

“If you can control these things and get useful answers, you can stay in that environment and make those changes.”

But if you’re not in control, getting help, or getting an answer, then it’s best to start hunting for something new if you can’t “tolerate it,” she continued.

“The best thing to do is look for another role, build your resume and keep your head down for as long as you need to be in that environment,” Nesdoly recommended.

“Ultimately, it will achieve a change in role if there is nothing in your control.”