Many of us have been stuck in toxic work environments that suck the life out of us, though sometimes we don’t see the writing on the wall. The red flags are there, but so is the fear of losing our livelihood.
But remaining in a bad job can be devastating for mental and physical health. You risk more by sticking it out than by leaving.
So, how do we know when it’s time to go? Here are 16 clear signs you’re working in a toxic environment and should quit ASAP.
There’s a Lack of Recognition
You go the extra mile, giving your all to a project, working overtime to get something over the line, or bringing great ideas to the table, but you receive no recognition. They use your work, but you get no credit, or worse, they credit someone else.
Unclear Job Roles
Not having clear expectations around your role is anxiety-inducing. You never know whether you’re hitting your KPIs or if the extra work you’re doing falls under your responsibilities. It shows a lack of organization within the company, and more sinisterly, some companies do it intentionally to exploit their employees. You are entitled to a clear job description; if they don’t give you one, it’s a bad sign.
They Increase Your Responsibility but Not Your Pay
They sugarcoat a “promotion,” highlighting the impressive title of your new role—but don’t give you the impressive pay rise to go with it. Sometimes, they don’t even honor you at all, lumping extra responsibilities on your plate without a thought or salary increase.
High Turnover Rate
When many people are being hired but quickly leave, it’s a red flag. Even when they try to spin it, saying those people weren’t the right fit or were inspired to pursue their passions, don’t ignore the warning bell.
Gaslighting
You have repeated situations where you bring up an issue only to be told it doesn’t exist. Management is vague and starts blaming you for things that are not in your control or telling you your work is not up to scratch when it’s actually delivering impressive results.
They Focus on Who’s Visible, Not Who’s Doing the Work
Productivity theatre is when an employee puts on a show of busyness. They’re always on a business call when the boss walks past, they have stacked files on their desk, and they make a song and dance out of every task they complete—but behind the scenes, they’re doing very little work. When a company focuses on these kinds of performances but doesn’t take the time to see who really has their head down, it shows weak leadership.
Micromanaging
Not being given the autonomy to do your work is immensely frustrating and undermining. When every detail of your work is scrutinized, and your manager takes over tasks when you’re still busy with them, it could be a sign of micromanaging. It might also come in the form of counting keyboard strokes (a big one for remote work) or a lack of real delegation, where employees are only given fragments of tasks, not full ones. If a company and management don’t trust their employees, the result is a toxic environment and very demotivated, disgruntled employees.
Your Health Takes a Hit
If you’ve noticed a decline in your mental and physical health, it might be worth taking a closer look at your work life. The culmination of frequently working overtime, bad vibes in the office, and mountains of work can lead to burnout and serious health conditions. Ask yourself: If you weren’t in this job, would you feel better?
There’s a Culture of Toxic Productivity
There’s a difference between delivering great work on time and feeling like you are on an eternally spinning hamster wheel of productivity. In toxic productivity environments, you often feel like what you do is never enough, and there is immense pressure to do more.
It can also look like a company that expects you to treat work like it is your soul calling and to arrive every morning with a “go-getter” attitude. This is not sustainable and shows a lack of respect for the other important parts of employees’ lives, like their families.
It Feels Like School
If the office starts to remind you of being in a classroom, it can be a red flag. It shouldn’t feel like you’re a naughty schoolchild when leadership talks to you. If there is a strange hierarchy with high-school-like cliques and a culture of talking down to co-workers, it’s time to find another company to work for. You deserve to be treated as a peer and adult in the workplace.
No Career Development Plans
There are vague promises of promotion, but nothing ever materializes. Your abilities, experience, and knowledge grow after time in a role, and eventually, they will exceed it. If a company continues to keep you in that position, ask yourself why. It can show a lack of insight on their side, or worse, that they’d prefer to keep paying you a junior salary while you do senior-level work.
Your Personal Time Is Not Respected
Work calls and emails on the weekend, meetings after hours, expectations that you attend events and webinars late at night—all signs that your personal time is not being respected. If they tell you, overtly or not, that working overtime is a sign of commitment, don’t believe them. You are contracted and paid to work a certain amount of hours. Expecting you to work beyond that is exploitation.
Sabotage Each Other
You know you are in a very unhealthy workplace when colleagues start to sabotage each other. If management fails to see it or, more disturbingly, accept this behavior, leave. Sabotage can cause great damage to your career; it’s not worth staying.
A Lack of Work
The idea of having no tasks at work can seem appealing at face value, but continuously having nothing to do is, more often, severely demotivating. It can feel like management doesn’t trust you with tasks, and you might end up believing (falsely) your work isn’t good enough. But, in reality, it’s a sign there’s trouble up the ranks and disorganization within the company.
Your Friends and Family Point it Out
Sometimes, those closest to you can see the effects of a toxic job before you realize it yourself. If your friends and family start mentioning that you no longer have time or energy for the things you love—or for them—it’s a red flag. Their outside perspective can often reveal just how much your job is taking a toll on your life.
Sunday Evenings Are Filled With Dread
A clear sign your job’s getting you down? Sunday evening blues. If you find yourself dreading the work week to the point where it sinks you into a deep depression, it’s a red flag.
You’re Not Trapped
You may feel trapped in a toxic job and like your confidence has been eroded, but you have the power to move on. You have skills, knowledge, and experience many other companies would appreciate and value. And often, the signs listed here point to the company being in trouble, not you. It’s time to jump ship and take your career in a positive direction.
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