my advice for navigating a toxic work environment
A few months ago, I was on a panel about Navigating a Toxic Work Environment.
The moderator and other panelists were a group of super inspiring women who shared their lived (and vulnerable) experiences and the lessons they learned from navigating a toxic work environment.
It made me reflect on my own experience of navigating a toxic work environment.
But before I share that story…
what is a toxic work environment?
It’s an environment that lacks physical, mental, emotional, and psychological safety.
It’s one where people don’t feel safe asking questions, sharing their opinions, or providing feedback.
It’s not a bad moment, day, or week.
It’s one where disrespect, bullying, discrimination, and harassment are the norm.
It’s snide comments or jokes, unfair treatment, and mistreatment.
It’s one that leads to high stress, burnout, and depression.
It’s one where competition is prioritized over collaboration.
It’s one where there’s little to no trust.
It’s one where there are red flags on top of red flags on top of red flags 🚩🚩🚩
One of the questions asked of the panel was:
What advice would you give to someone who is experiencing a toxic work environment?
Here’s the answer I shared.
It might not be the most popular answer.
But it’s the answer that I would give (and have given) to people I care about.
step one: know your rights
Know your legal rights when navigating issues related to disrespect, discrimination, harassment, violence, and toxicity in the workplace.
Know where your organization stands on these issues.
Do they have policies in place that clearly state that they are committed to creating a healthy and safe work environment for employees?
Do they have clear processes in place for managing these types of issues?
Is leadership committed to taking meaningful action?
If your organization does have these in place, address your concerns through their formal channels and follow the processes outlined in their policies.
I know it sounds cliché, but document everything.
These details are important, they are your truth, and they can become blurry over time.
Document
Who was involved
what happened (what was said, body language, tone of voice, etc.)
when it happened (dates, times, etc.)
Where it happened
How it happened
who may have witnessed the incident
Who you told
What you said, what you did, and why
What impact it has had on you
What evidence you have, including emails, texts, social media posts + comments, DMs, voicemails, photos, screenshots, etc.
step two: get loud to the right people
If you’re experiencing a toxic work environment, look for the helpers.
Go to a leader that you know, like and trust, seek advice from HR, or access help through your company’s whistleblowing hotline.
Get loud to the right people in the most productive way that you can.
Document the steps you’ve taken, who you’ve raised your concerns with, and their response.
If your concerns are dismissed, you don’t receive support, or the response lacks meaningful action, ensure that you make senior leadership aware of the situation in WRITING.
If it’s not in writing, it didn’t happen. True story.
The most significant obligation that an employer has to its employees is to create and maintain a healthy and safe work environment.
Leaders are the gatekeepers of safety, culture, and values.
And if they don’t listen to you, take your concerns seriously, and take swift, meaningful action…
Shame. On. Them.
You need to ask yourself why you should continue to work for a company and leadership that doesn’t do the right thing, doesn’t value you, and doesn’t prioritize your safety, your health + your well-being.
Hard truths, but truths nonetheless.
step three: choose sooner
If you’ve done all the right things, but the situation isn’t getting better, and you aren’t getting the support you need,
Choose sooner.
Choose yourself sooner.
Choose to get out sooner.
Choose to start over sooner.
Toxic workplaces lead to so many negative health outcomes.
Toxic energy becomes paralyzing, all-consuming, and exhausting.
Toxic work environments rob you of your confidence, happiness, and peace.
There is power in holding on and there is power in letting go.
Sometimes letting go is the best thing.
Even when it’s hard.
Even when it isn’t fair.
Even when it isn’t right.
Choose peace.
Choose sooner.
Choose you.
my story
Years ago, I was working in a job that gave me all the feels: challenging work, stretch projects, skills development, and amazing clients. BUT I worked for someone who was disrespectful and toxic. If I asked for advice or support, I was penalized. They seized every opportunity to push me down and make me feel small – in private and in public.
I felt handcuffed. I loved the job and all the opportunities that it provided me with, but I couldn’t stomach the lack of respect, stress, and anxiety brought on by my manager.
I asked for help, but the higher-ups didn’t investigate because “we were HR”.
So I left.
On the day that I resigned, I remember feeling both tremendous relief and overwhelming grief.
Relief that I would no longer have to work with and for someone who didn’t respect or value me and grief for all the missed opportunities and amazing clients that I was walking away from.
So I get how hard it is.
That experience changed me.
It strengthened me.
It motivated me to use my voice and to use it for good.
To create meaningful and lasting change in workplaces.
I really believe that experience, as hard as it was, led me to the work that I do now - conducting workplace investigations fairly, thoroughly, thoughtfully, sensitively, and empathetically.
January 24, 2022
Saira Gangji is an independent licensed Workplace Investigator at hrology in Calgary, AB. She investigates allegations of discrimination and human rights, harassment, violence, and misconduct in the workplace. For more information about hrology and our process, see the work with me page.