13 Signs Your Workplace Is Toxic Enough To Warrant Quitting

1. There Are Toxic Leaders Across The Organization

It is one thing to work for a toxic boss, but it is a whole different thing to work in a toxic work culture. When you are seeing leaders across the organization acting in a toxic manner, consider finding a new job. Toxicity spreads like a virus in a company, if left unchecked. It will tear down the company and eventually, the company will die. Make like a rat and leave the sinking ship! – John Knotts, Crosscutter Enterprises

2. Working There Is Like Playing Musical Chairs

Remember that game? The music is going and we’re all nervously laughing because we all know that as soon as it stops, it’s every man for himself! If your job is like that, you’ll know it by seeing the blame, excuses and denial all around you. Does that give you energy or suck it out of you? Unless you thrive on the blame game, it’s time to leave. Lots of employers are dying to meet a winner like you. – Dominic Rubino, BizStratPlan

1. There Are Toxic Leaders Across The Organization

2. Working There Is Like Playing Musical Chairs

3. There’s A Mismatch Between Company Culture And Values

Recognition of workplace toxicity requires validation. Validate and measure company culture versus company values and personal values on a scale from one to five, in which one is bad and five is good. If ratings are four or below, perform a cost-benefit analysis to realize a stay-go strategy that creates value, growth and opportunity, then initiate communications and execute the plan. – Lori Harris, Harris Whitesell Consulting

4. The Fear Of Staying Is Greater Than The Fear Of Leaving

When a sense of fear sets in, you notice yourself no longer being the person you desire to be. You hesitate to share your ideas, provide your opinions or offer feedback. You worry about the impact of your work, ruminate on past conversations or even daydream about what it’s like to work elsewhere. Staying longer will rob you of precious time to discover, use your skills and apply your knowledge. – Mirella De Civita, Ph.D., PCC, MCEC, Papillon MDC Inc.

5. Your Energy Goes Toward Defending Your Work

In a healthy work environment, your energy is going into the work that you are doing and the relationships that you are building and sustaining. You may go home exhausted at the end of the day, but you are also leaving fulfilled. In a toxic environment, your energy is going into defending the work that you are doing. At the end of the day, you will go home exhausted as well as drained. – Brian Gorman, TransformingLives.Coach

6. The Issues Go Beyond Poor Communication

What is at the source of the toxicity? Is it the leadership, their behavior or is it perhaps a lack of transparency and communication? Sometimes a lack of communication breeds mistrust and the remedy is clarity and openness. Particularly if you’re a relative newcomer to the company, it’s important to talk to someone and make sure you’re not making false assumptions and leaving prematurely. – Debbie Ince, Executive Talent Finders, Inc

7. You Don’t Feel Safe Or Positively Connected To Others

Workplace cultures are powerful, for better or for worse. They impact everything from our moods to our immune systems. Check how you feel when you walk into your workplace, particularly the extent to which you feel safe and positively connected to others. Do you feel valued for who you are? Are you able to give your best ideas without fear of ridicule or rejection? If not, plan your escape. – Dr. Joel M. Rothaizer, MCC, Clear Impact Consulting Group

8. Leaders Won’t Do Anything To Change Company Issues

Unfortunately, a toxic work culture can become the norm for organizations with poor to nonexistent leadership. An employee should assess the situation before jumping to any quick conclusions, but if leadership has been in place for more than a year and has been made aware of specific issues and does nothing to change the culture, it’s time to go or risk becoming a byproduct of the environment. – Dr. Melissa Weathersby, 5-Star Empowerment

9. There Are Rational, Not Just Emotional, Reasons To Leave

The first step in making such a determination is to establish your personal criteria. Evaluate based on how it makes you feel versus the reality of facts. Such a determination is vital in that decision-making process. And remember, my reality is not the same as your reality. An environment that you may consider toxic because of its hyper-competitiveness may be the optimal setting for another person. – Kamyar Shah, World Consulting Group

10. Company Leaders Lack Integrity

Working in a toxic environment has the potential to negatively impact an employee’s physical and emotional health despite the employee’s best effort to shield themselves from the dysfunction. If the toxicity can be traced all the way to the top of the organization, it is probably time to look elsewhere because there is no one available that can model the positive behaviors thriving cultures need. – Patrick Veroneau, Emery Leadership Group

11. Work Is Taking A Toll On Your Mental Health

If you’re feeling stressed for a long period of time or just plain burned out, and nothing you do provides relief, it might be a sign to move on. Whether it’s caused by a micromanaging boss, a combative co-worker or a complete lack of company culture, life is too short to spend half your time where you’re miserable. It’s worth leaving to protect your mental health. – Andy Bailey, Petra Coach

12. Your Ambition Is Viewed As A Threat

Toxic narcissists do not like to share the stage with ambitious, high-performing employees. Delivering your best effort may be seen as a threat. Your choices are to underperform or find another job. Not living up to your potential can be demoralizing. Ask yourself if the negative impact on your sense of self-worth is worth the paycheck. If it is not, it might be time to find a new job. – Ron Young, PAIRIN

13. There’s A Strong Culture Of Distrust

In a toxic culture, there is a clear lack of trust between employees and leaders. Employees are micromanaged, and everything they do is monitored or tracked. Communication in all directions is broken. Employees don’t believe a thing leaders say because their actions don’t match their words. It is reason enough to leave a company because this is only the tip of the iceberg. Trust is foundational. – Annette Franz, CX Journey Inc.