It’s never easy dealing with a toxic work environment, especially when your day-to-day life is affected by it so heavily. Whether your boss or co-workers are putting you down or making you feel constantly uneasy, it can be difficult to stay motivated and feel valued in your position. In order to keep yourself from becoming too discouraged by the situation, try implementing these 10 strategies that can help you deal with a toxic working environment better in the long run.
1) Stand up for yourself
No one else is going to fix your work environment for you. If you want something done about a toxic situation, it’s up to you to speak up and create change. Be upfront about what bothers you and focus on problem-solving. Acknowledging that things can always be better—and keeping lines of communication open—is an important part of dealing with tough situations like these. You might not feel comfortable making those initial requests or small changes in the beginning, but once you start talking about them (and seeing results) it’ll be easier in future situations too. And remember: Toxic work environments are often surrounded by good people who are just as frustrated as you are, so don’t forget that speaking up can also help others.
2) Take care of your mental health
Staying physically healthy is one of the best ways to stay sane in a toxic work environment. In fact, it’s often hard for your brain to remain focused on your work when you feel awful. Plus, making sure you’re exercising and eating right has been proven to make people feel more positive overall, as well as less stressed and anxious. The last thing you want is increased stress and anxiety at work when there’s already so much other garbage going on. Take care of yourself—you won’t regret it! (Plus, you might be surprised by how much better you perform at work.)
3) Build allies
The problem with letting colleagues know you’re unhappy is that it puts you in an adversarial position. This makes resolving your complaint more difficult. Instead, identify one or two allies who have experienced similar issues and see if they would be willing to go to bat for you with management or HR. You could even take things one step further and create an online petition or ask others if they are willing to join your cause—you may be surprised by how many people are affected. If nothing else, you will feel less alone in what is probably a very lonely situation. Then, if needed, use your small group of supporters as backup during meetings with management.
4) Get professional help
If you’re working in an unhealthy environment and have tried everything you can think of, it might be time to seek outside help. There are many resources out there designed specifically for employees who need assistance changing their work situation. Take advantage of whatever resources are available through your company or university, but also talk with colleagues who are willing to listen; you might be surprised by what people say about their work environments when they’re asked anonymously! If your organization doesn’t offer any kind of help or if no one is willing to listen, consider hiring an executive coach. A coach will help you evaluate your current situation and come up with ways to approach it differently; they won’t tell you what decisions to make, but they will guide you as you take action.
5) File a grievance or complaint
If your employer is violating its own policies, there are steps you can take. Gather evidence and keep track of dates, times, and witnesses who may be able to corroborate your account. You can make formal complaints about discrimination or workplace abuse. If you believe that you have been subject to workplace bullying, you may want to consult an attorney in your area about whether or not you have grounds for filing a lawsuit against your employer. It’s usually best to try other tactics first—like talking with management—to avoid lawsuits from becoming necessary. However, it’s still important that you know how to file a grievance if an issue arises that requires it.
6) Document everything
That includes emails you send, tasks and calendar events you schedule and notes of any meetings you have with your boss or coworkers. It’s never too early to start gathering information, so if your working conditions are bad enough that you’re contemplating whether or not it’s time to look for another job, then there’s no time like now to get started documenting what goes on at work every day. After all, if nothing else comes out of staying where you are, at least you can use what you know about your company in future interviews with other employers—so make sure that information is accurate! You don’t want your current employer thinking that their turnover rate is due in part to negative comments from disgruntled employees when really it’s because of their terrible management style.
7) Take Legal Action
If you’re being harassed at work, you might consider taking legal action. But in many cases, your best course of action is to confront your harasser head-on and ask him or her to stop. If that doesn’t work—or if you want to avoid an uncomfortable confrontation—you can always take steps toward leaving your job before quitting. That way, you don’t have to worry about how you’ll pay your bills if your employer doesn’t grant a separation package. If a toxic work environment is preventing you from making real progress on projects or hindering others from doing their jobs well, there may be grounds for filing suit against management.
8) Know Your Rights
The first step in dealing with a toxic work environment is understanding your rights as an employee. According to California’s Department of Fair Employment and Housing, you have an obligation to take reasonable steps to avoid harm if an employer fails to take reasonable steps to prevent harassment. And that could mean doing anything from avoiding physical spaces where harassment often occurs or asking for different assignments when your harasser has power over your career progress. In certain cases, employees can even sue their employers for sexual harassment; it depends on how much power or control your harasser had over you and whether he or she was acting within company policy. If you believe that your employer didn’t adequately address an incident of sexual harassment, consider filing a complaint with DFEH before seeking out other solutions.
9) Talk to Human Resources
Whether you have an obvious, serious problem or more of an amorphous complaint, it’s best to start with your company’s human resources department. HR can help you figure out if you have a legitimate issue and may be able to help improve things immediately. They might also be able to refer you elsewhere if they aren’t equipped to deal with what you’re facing. And let’s face it: No matter how bad your boss is, no one deserves being harassed or abused by another employee. If that happens—even if it isn’t directed at you—report it immediately.
10) Quit!
There’s nothing wrong with doing what you need to do to get yourself out of a hostile situation, and quitting might be your best bet. According to recent surveys, 40% of women have left jobs because of mistreatment by bosses or co-workers. If you feel as though you’re working in an unhealthy environment that’s harmful not only for your well-being but also for your career growth and potential, it might be time to consider moving on. Don’t beat yourself up about it—you deserve better than that! Find another position that provides healthier opportunities for professional and personal growth.
Conclusion
A toxic work environment is never fun. At best, it’s stressful and frustrating; at worst, it can lead to major health issues or even death. If you think your workplace could use some improvements (or if you feel like something needs improving), there are plenty of steps you can take. Some work environments are naturally more toxic than others—but no matter what kind of working environment you find yourself in, there are ways to deal with it. Ultimately, learning how to deal with a toxic work environment is all about setting boundaries: learning when not to listen and realizing what’s acceptable behavior within your working conditions. Once you know where those lines are drawn, getting through your day-to-day routine won’t be nearly as stressful.