A poll released today by iHire shows that 74.9% of workers in the US have experienced toxic workplaces, and 53.7% have left jobs because of such conditions. Just about everything you could come across would cause you stress, including tough deadlines or maybe even an argument, but this by no means qualifies to be termed legally as a “hostile” workplace.
Hostile work environments go along with common signs, such as harassment, bullying, and discrimination coming from colleagues within the workplace. It prevents an employee from functioning normally. According to hostile work environment attorney Samuel D. Almon, having to work in an environment you feel is detrimental to your mental health, emotional health, and dignity can be a truly exasperating experience. You can take legal action if you experience working in a hostile work environment.
The state’s labor laws keep workers well-protected from all sorts of questionable actions taken by employers, including fostering a hostile work environment.
Let’s discuss the signs to watch for in your workplace that may indicate it legally qualifies as a hostile environment.
Persistent Verbal Abuse
In a workplace that condones verbal abuse, you can expect the existence of ongoing stress. You might have even seen co-workers calling each other names and using bad language, as it makes room for feelings of alienation and discomfort for you.
Negative verbal incidents create mistrust among team members and kill morale and teamwork. If you find yourself repeatedly humiliated or slandered, one of the things to acknowledge and come to terms with is that this is now the prevailing workplace culture for all involved. In this regard, respect in the workplace matters for the employees.
Verbal abuse doesn’t just affect emotions—it can also impact your health. In some cases, if the stress leads to anxiety, depression, or other medical issues, you may be able to explore workers’ compensation as a way to cover related treatment or time off work.
According to Weber and Rubano, if you have been injured in the workplace or suffer anxiety, other medical issues, or even depression as a result of a hostile work environment, a skilled employment lawyer can give you the best course of action. Find a colleague you can confide in and seek a manager you trust to discuss the matter.
Discrimination and Harassment
Discrimination and harassment may present in several forms under a workplace setting. It creates an unsafe and threatening environment for others. Discrimination occurs when a person is treated negatively with respect to one’s race, origin, sex, age, or sexual orientation, making that person feel apart.
Regarding this particular situation, sometimes harassment occurs through unwanted advances, comments, or jokes that insult, offend, or malign. These behaviors cause unwanted attention and significant distress. Harassment interferes with one’s self-esteem and damages the prospects for good collaboration and teamwork by all employees.
Such actions should never be tolerated. If you’re going through this, try approaching HR or some other trusted buddy and just talk about it together to think of ways to create healthier work environments.
Intimidation and Threatening Behavior
Threats and bullying can make an environment toxic. Coworkers, at times even superiors, make loud or whispering threats that can affect one’s self-esteem and break a team completely.
Such conduct will hardly ever give you a feeling of belonging, and your ability to contribute will suffer tremendously.
This kind of conduct should be called out and opposed, as your workplace ought to respect and support its workers. It therefore becomes important to have discernment if the workplace is one of safety against attack or intimidation, especially with fear that anyone might retaliate for anything said by anyone else.
You are entitled to work in a safe environment.
Unreasonable Work Demands
Workplace demands can really drain you and put you at risk of burnout.
You’re forced to make decisions on really short deadlines, juggle a host of activities, and work way past personal hours, causing you constant stress.
That very pressure does not just affect your performance levels but also the way you are perceived by your co-workers since such things tend to isolate you from the group. It is time to recognize when work starts becoming intolerable. Speaking with your supervisors is also important in raising concerns.
A healthy work environment acknowledges the advantages you bring with you and their limits. Such efforts would also encourage teamwork that will likely develop and, eventually, be much more enjoyable for everybody rather than just for those organizing the exercise.
Isolation and Exclusion From Team Activities
Were you made to feel like an outsider most of the time in your team meetings or excluded from any company social events? These types of cases lead to loneliness and disaffection.
Ignored inputs and missing out on group activity invites from colleagues can make you feel unappreciated and unworthy. Your exclusion harms your self-respect and ability to bond with your coworkers.
So if you begin to realize these patterns, it is necessary to address them. Approach your manager or HR. They will assist you and help you gain support to foster a more inclusive environment where everyone feels needed and included.
