Most jobs have their ups and downs – good days and bad days. There are times, however, when your job may be so stressful that it feels as though there are no good days to be found. When you find yourself in that type of situation, there’s a good chance you’re stuck in a toxic work environment.

In this guide, we’ll explore the factors that make a workplace toxic and examine some of the signs of a toxic work environment. We’ll also provide some tips that can help you learn how to deal with a toxic work environment.

What is a toxic work environment?

Toxic work environments can come in many different forms, but they share one thing in common: they are environments in which the workplace culture is filled with negative behaviors. Employees who work in this type of toxic environment often experience various levels of intimidation, bullying, and persistent negativity.

These types of work environments tend to be highly stressful for many employees and can cause significant emotional and psychological harm. Regardless of whether you’re dealing with a bad boss or just a bad work environment, it’s important to know how to recognize the signs of toxicity.

Pro Tip: If you are dealing with a bad boss, knowing how to dump them can be a great help to your sanity.

Toxic work environment examples

It’s important to know how to identify a toxic work culture. There are some common signs that may indicate your workplace is toxic, including:

Employee sickness: Toxic work environments can cause employee burnout, fatigue, and illness due to high levels of stress that wreak havoc on our bodies. If people repeatedly call in sick or are working while they’re ill, that's a good sign the workplace may be toxic.
Narcissistic leadership: When superiors demand you always agree with them or act as though they're above the rules, your workplace may be toxic. These types of leaders expect everyone else to be perfect while holding themselves to significantly lower standards or no standards at all.
Little to no enthusiasm: Look around the office. Does anyone appear to be happy working there? Is anyone ever smiling? If people typically seem downright miserable to be working at the company, you can assume the work environment is toxic.
Lack of communication or negative communication: In a negative work environment, employees often don’t receive the information they need to do their jobs effectively. Do you work hard without receiving any positive feedback or recognition? Are you routinely told that you should be glad you’re even employed? That’s toxic!
High turnover: When the work environment has nothing to offer except dysfunction, poor morale, and sickness, colleagues will start heading for the door to find a better opportunity. If you notice a high turnover rate in your company or department, that’s often a sign of a toxic work environment.
Cliques, gossip, and rumors: If everyone seems to be out for themselves and there are no genuine friendships among coworkers, it could be the result of a toxic work environment. That’s even more likely when there is constant turmoil, paranoia, office gossip, and rumors.

Even if none of those common signs are present in your workplace, it’s still important to trust your gut. If you feel as though something is wrong, take the time needed to identify the source of your discomfort. After all, if you are in a toxic work environment, you’ll need to address that problem before it makes you even more miserable than you already are.

Identifying signs of a toxic work environment before you take the job

Obviously, the best way to deal with a toxic work environment is to avoid the company altogether. Sometimes, there are ways to identify a toxic workplace before you even take the job.

Here are some tell-tell signs of a toxic work environment.

Signs of a toxic workplace: before the interview

As part of your pre-interview research, go to sites like Glassdoor or Indeed and read reviews of the company by current and past employees. Pay close attention to the negative comments, particularly comments about the CEO and upper management. If you consistently see comments such as “If you speak up, they'll show you the door,” you might want to reconsider a role with that company.

According to Liz Ryan, author of “Reinvention Roadmap: Break the Rules to Get the Job You Want and Career You Deserve,” something as simple as your interview time could be a sign of a toxic workplace.

“If they inform you of your scheduled interview time versus asking you what date and time would be convenient for you,” she writes, “you've been warned!”

Signs of a toxic workplace: during the interview

You can also get some great information about a potentially toxic work environment by asking questions about the company's core values and mission during your interview. Make sure to ask tough questions about the company's culture and values. Some examples include:

Describe the last bold new idea you went after as an organization.
Tell me about the last time something bad occurred, such as a layoff. How did your management group handle this?
How have your practices evolved over time and how did you execute the changes?

In addition to asking questions, you can learn a great deal about the company's culture by how you're treated while on site. Here are some clear red flags to help you see that a workplace is toxic before you join the company.

People are rude and dismissive to you throughout the hiring process.
Interviewers ask you questions but don't give you time to ask questions about them in return.
Your potential co-workers are “too busy” to spend time with you during the interview.
You find the hiring manager or other employees unlikeable.

Pay attention as you walk around the workplace

Watch how people are communicating with one another. What are they saying with their body language and voice during your tour? Do the employees seem at ease and comfortable in their environment or do they look like they’re walking on eggshells? If they’re uncomfortable, there’s a good chance you will be too.

Make sure that you use the bathroom. Companies with negative workplace cultures often fail to pay attention to those seemingly minor details. If you walk into the bathroom and it appears to be well-maintained, then that’s a good sign that the company values its employees and its image. Empty toilet paper rolls and paper towels can be an indication that something’s amiss.

Above all, listen to your gut. If you don't have a good feeling before, during, or after your interview – or if you're spending sleepless nights trying to make your decision, then you should probably consider passing on this job. Life is too short to work in a toxic environment.

How to handle a toxic work environment

But what if you’ve already taken a job in a toxic work environment? After all, some companies do a better job of hiding their toxicity than others. Well, if that’s the situation you find yourself in, then you’ll need to know how to handle that toxic environment. It takes time to find a new job so you may not be able to just quit right away.

The good news is there are options for dealing with any toxic work environment:

Find people who feel the same way you do. Develop friendships with people who share your feelings about that toxic environment. That can allow you to watch each other's backs and vent to one another when necessary – outside of work, of course.
Talk to human resources or supervisors. If you think there are options for addressing toxic coworkers or situations, don’t be afraid to seek help from superiors.
Do something after work that can help relieve stress. Go to the gym, do home repairs, or develop new skills. The key is to make sure you're living a fulfilling life outside of work to combat the drama of your 9 to 5.
Create lists to keep yourself busy. A list can help you stay focused on your tasks instead of the toxic atmosphere and gives you a reason to keep going every day.
Document everything you do. Save emails and write down comments and decisions from meetings, phone calls, and every person who interacts with you. If you need to file a complaint, you will need that written evidence to back your claim.
Start your exit strategy. It is often possible for things to improve at your job, in which case it might make sense to stay. However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t begin your search for a new job. That will help you stay positive while you wait for change – and could even lead to a better opportunity that enables you to escape your current misery.

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Never settle for life in a toxic work environment

It’s vital to know how to recognize the signs of a toxic work environment so that you can deal with that negativity before it impacts mental health and your career. The good news is that there are ways to deal with workplace toxicity, including searching for a new job with a better company culture.

Trying to escape a toxic work environment and need help with your resume? Get your free resume review from our experts today!

This article was originally written by Lisa Tynan. It has been updated by Ken Chase.