The buzzing of the alarm clock rudely awakens you to the reality of another Monday morning and the beginning of another work week. As the ugly thoughts of what you face at work race through your mind, you think to yourself how you don’t—no can’t, go into work again. You wonder whether you should call in sick, but realize that you can’t do that again as you’ve already done it too many times. You have to go in, but you can’t face that place again.
What would cause someone to feel this way? What could be so bad? Is it because he is irresponsible? After all, his employer pays him for his services. Is she just plain lazy or disloyal? Shouldn’t an employer be able to expect that their employees will come in when they are scheduled? Or could it be something else—could it be something far worse? Could it be that this employee has a toxic, spirit sapping job?
This scenario plays out so very often, employees not wanting to go to work and employers frustrated by individuals they cannot count on to show up—or worse, those who are physically present but whose performance indicates they are somewhere else. Why does this happen and who is to blame?
Dissatisfied employees need to carefully look at their job and ask themselves why they are unhappy at their employ. Full time employees spend well over 2000 hours a year at work—often more time then they spend with family and friends. If they’re in an environment that makes them feel lousy, they’ve got to make some hard decisions: can I make things better or should I get out. As Kenny Roger’s said in his song the Gambler: “You got to know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em, know when to walk away.”
If you like the company, but you’re in the wrong job, ask for a transfer. If your supervisor is a jerk, see if you can move to a different department. But, if it is absolutely a bad situation throughout—then get out!
Bad jobs, toxic jobs never get better. The longer you’re there, the worse it gets. Your self esteem gets damaged and eventually your performance suffers so badly that the employer often fires you anyway. It is in your best interest and in your employer’s best interest for you to leave.
In my coaching practice I have worked with many employees who tell such stories. The first is the employee who tells me they knew on their first day of work that they made a mistake. What they signed on for was different than what they found when they walked in the door. They kept believing it would change, but it didn’t. Unfortunately, sometimes it took years of unhappiness before either they or the employer pulled the plug—and even when they were fired, they all said how relieved they were. In the second scenario, the employee started off happy, but over the years things changed and they didn’t or couldn’t. In either case, like the first scenario, it was apparent that it was time to go, but they were unable to make the move, often depending on the employer to show them the door. For the lucky ones—the ones who realized the situation was bad and they couldn’t change it, they got out quickly and moved on with their lives. They didn’t tie their identity and self-esteem to their jobs—and they also realized it was just a job.
So how do you know when your job is toxic? How do you know when it is not getting better and it is time to go? Do you have to wait to hear that sucking sound that may well be your self-confidence going down the drain?
Toxic jobs do not all look alike. All will, however, like a bad relationship, destroy your self-esteem, will bring you down, and will make your life miserable. Some red flags to watch for when trying to determine if your place of employ is toxic:
1. Customers and employees are second to everything else
2. Employees and customers are always complaining
3. Employees bail out faster than management can hire replacements
4. You’re always fighting fires, never catching up, and you’re always finding yourself behind the eight ball
5. Management is inconsistent in the way they manage or they don’t manage at all
6. Supervisors are poorly trained and arbitrary in their style
7. Employees are not treated with any respect and decency
Employers who run toxic organizations often blame their customers, vendors and employees for their woeful ways. Employees should not have to take it. If the problem can’t be corrected, it is time to change. As the Gambler concludes: You’ve got to “know when to run.”
About the Author:
Rick Dacri is an organizational development consultant, coach and featured speaker at regional and national conferences. Since 1995 his firm, Dacri & Associates (http://www.dacri.com) has focused on improving the performance of individuals and organizations. Rick publishes a monthly newsletter, the Dacri Report (http://www.dacri.com/enewsletter.htm) with the intent to provide clients and friends critical information on issues that impact them, their organization and their employees. Rick can be reached at 1-800-892-9828, or rick@dacri.com.
