Toxic work: 15 warning signs

Do you come home and can’t disconnect from work? Do you dream about your boss or about that project you should have finished? Do you feel unable to stop thinking about the report you have to do tomorrow? Maybe you haven’t considered yet that you may have a toxic job.

Most of us have wished more than once not to go to the office and enjoy a day off. This is not a warning sign, it is something natural. However, Expressing negative feelings very frequently when you think about your job is worrying. What are the warning signs that you are in a toxic job?

Below, we tell you.

15 signs that you have a toxic job

If you identify with most of these situations, it means you are in a toxic job.

1. Connected 24 hours

Do you still check emails when you get home, on weekends or on days off? Allow yourself to get away from technologies and enjoy what surrounds you. Perhaps by being too focused on your job, you are missing out on many more valuable moments.

Sometimes, we find ourselves so absorbed by day-to-day life that we are not able to give each thing the importance it has. You have to work to live, not live to work. If you are in a job that enslaves you 24 hours a day, something has to change.

Try to get rid of that dependency little by little. And tell your boss. Try turning off your phone as soon as you leave work or not opening your email unless you are in the office. Your sleep will also improve.

2. Bad work environment

It is impossible to get along with everyone, but it is also impossible not to get along with anyone.. It is normal that you have more affinity with some colleagues than with others. It is also logical that there is someone whom you are more upset with and you do not want to share a coffee with them. What is not good is being surrounded by negative, conspiratorial, depressed or envious people.

A bad work environment can lead a leading company in its sector to ruin. It is not trivial and can turn what from the outside is seen as an ideal job into a truly toxic job. Run away from emotional vampires!

3. Communication problems

Communication is key in any company, not only for projects to go ahead, but also for avoid misunderstandings and resolve conflicts.

Furthermore, it should be taken into account that communication within a company not only refers to the interaction with customers and suppliers, but also to that which exists within the same organization, between the different departments and workers.

Therefore, if communication fails at any of these levelsit is very likely that you find yourself in a toxic job, because conflicts will be the order of the day.

4. Work for 5 decades

A peak of work does not last years. If you are finishing important tasks and projects, but your list of responsibilities and chores does not decrease, something is wrong. Either tasks have been added to you without your knowledge or you need to communicate that you need a break.

Sometimes, after finishing an extremely important report or closing a big deal that you’ve been working on for months, a break is imminent. At least, so you can catch your breath and be able to withstand that pressure again.

It doesn’t matter if you are a manager or on the lowest career ladder. Everyone needs less stressful stages of work. And more, after months of great wear and tear.

5. Bullying boss

If he makes you see that your job is expendable, mocks his employees openly, loses interest in conversations with people in his charge, discredits you left and right, or yells at you constantly… Yes, you have a harassing boss.

In these cases, ignoring it is almost impossible, therefore, The ideal is that you establish emotional limits and become a mirror: reflect their words and do not allow them to affect you.

6. Rejection of the different

The Discrimination based on sex, age, religion or sexual preference is synonymous with toxic work. If the situation becomes truly unbearable, it is imperative to act. You can communicate it to a superior or to the people responsible for human resources, so that they can take action.

If even so, the situation remains the same, it is advisable that you seek external help and legal advice.

Of course, if you have been asked to falsify documentation, have been a witness or victim of sexual harassment or any other type of violence at work, your work is not only harmful but can hide criminal behavior.

7. Widespread absenteeism

It is common for people to have to go to the doctor, get sick, or have some unforeseen event arise that forces them to miss work. But if there is, as a general rule, a high degree of absenteeism among workers, this It is a clear warning sign that you have a toxic job.

AND We are not only referring to a physical fault, but also to another of a psychological nature. The first refers to the absence from your position of at least 3 days each month. The second is a form of mental absenteeism, whereby being present in the office, most of the time is spent doing non-work activities.

8. There is no employee protection

If you are in a company where there are no possibilities for promotion, there is no job rotation or a real career plan for workers, your company may not be ensuring your protection. It’s probably because They are more focused on their own interests, such as increasing their customer base or saving costs.and undermining those of its employees.

Besides, The problem is aggravated when there is no department or group of people to ensure the well-being of the workers. In this case, if you are a person with initiative and dare to take a step forward, it is good that you express your disagreements and propose solutions.

9. Disagreement with what you do

Although the majority of signs correspond to the structure of the company and the climate that exists within it, it is also true that there are personal variables that make our work toxic.

In this case, If you don’t like what you’re doing and you’re only there for the money, work becomes a source of discomfort. which ends up harming your health.

If this is your situation, The ideal is to rethink things and look for alternatives that make you feel more satisfied.. Sometimes, not wanting to leave our comfort zone limits us from experiencing a better quality of life.

10. You do not identify with the company’s objectives

Employees’ sense of belonging significantly increases their job satisfaction and productivity. Unfortunately, there are still organizations that do not encourage this experience in their workers, and many times They resort to punishment or threats to make them carry out their tasks as they should.

In these cases, Workers do not feel part of the company and reject its values ​​and policies; which even leads them to resignation.

Therefore, if you do not feel identified with the organization you work for, you are probably in a toxic job.

11. Confusion regarding job role

There are workers who do not know exactly what functions correspond to their job, and Many times this is due to poor communication within the company..

The classic example is when an employee is hired but is not properly informed of what his or her role will be within the organization. Then, an ambiguous situation is generated where dHe knows who his superiors are, who his subordinates are, and what the company expects of him.

In these cases, the employee You experience a lot of discomfort and stress.

12. Burnout Syndrome

This is a condition that is harming many workers today. It manifests itself through a state of physical and mental exhaustion, which lasts over time and can alter the personality and self-esteem of the employee.

Its causes can be several, ranging from overwork to dissatisfaction with one’s role within the company. In the long run, this syndrome can lead to more severe health problems.

13. Assignment of absurd or unconstructive tasks

Job dissatisfaction doesn’t just come from overwork or poor work relationships. It can also arise from the feeling of being overqualified for what one does. That is to say, doing tasks which do not add to professional or personal development.

This is a typical example of those positions that perform monotonous and simple tasks.

14. High turnover rate

If people who previously worked were laid off or quit shortly after, it is very likely that you find yourself in a toxic job. That is why, in job interviews, it is important for the candidate to ask why the position is open.

Well, If the person who was there before left because they were promoted, that shows that the organization is interested in promoting the professional growth of the team. But, if the former workers decided to leave due to disagreement or were fired, then it is very likely that the position will not be as pleasant or beneficial.

15. All workers are unmotivated

Another indicator of toxic work is the obvious demotivation of other team members. In this case, we talk about people who are constantly complaining about what they do and they believe that going to their post is an ordeal.

To conclude, we advise you that, before leaving any job, even if you suspect that it is a toxic job, it is good to take palliative measures. That is to say, seek solutions through dialogue and harmony. If after several attempts this is not effective, then you should change jobs.

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