Research reveals whether you're working in a toxic workplace

Is your workplace toxic?

Sadly, new research suggests there’s a high chance it is.

When it comes to the world of work, it should be a given that you turn up, do your job and get to go home with no added stress or harm caused.

According to the study, conducted by Mental Health First Aid England (MHFA), a staggering 1/3 of us have to deal with working in a toxic environment, and its devastating our mental health.

This means 31% of the 2,000 surveyed individuals have experienced at least one microaggression or form of discriminatory behaviour from their manager over the last six months.

We’re all used to the little gripes that make our day slightly more annoying - whether it’s your mug mysteriously going missing, or people chewing a little bit too loudly.

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Yet in the grand scheme of things, these irritating behaviours conceal something much more damaging happening in the workplace every day.

Toxic behaviours at work may include the following: purposefully not being given credit for work completed, favouritism of other employees, misspelling and mispronouncing names on purpose, and sarcasm.

Further examples cited were negative comments or assumptions surrounding ages, working patterns, personal life and physical and mental health.

One in five of the people surveyed stated that the toxic behaviours they had experienced have had a profoundly negative impact on their mental health, that they were considering quitting their job because of it.

'A big part of feeling you belong is feeling known, respected and valued'

Chief Executive of MHFA England said: “Everyone deserves to feel seen and valued at work. Equity, inclusion, and a sense of belonging are key to positive mental health and wellbeing in the workplace.”

Experiencing toxic behaviours or microaggressions has a profound effect on the individual experiencing them.

To emphasise this point, Dr Melissa Carr added: “Microaggressions and discrimination can considerably undermine people’s sense of psychological safety and wellbeing at work, and it’s concerning to see how common these instances are in the UK.”

The study further showed that over one in seven employees surveyed said these microaggressions left them feeling that they couldn’t be their whole self at work.

'A long way to go'

“A big part of feeling you belong is feeling known, respected and valued,” Dr Carr added.

Ultimately, the bulk of the responsibility lies with those in management roles to correct and guide employees behaviour.

“This research is a timely reminder of the vital role line managers and colleagues play in building supportive work environments that allow people to bring their whole self to work”, Dr Carr concludes.

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This disheartening research proves that there is a long way to go in creating workplace environments where microaggressions and discrimination are called out and tackled effectively.

The research sits alongside MFHA England’s new campaign, My Whole Self, which offers a series of free resources designed to provide the necessary knowledge and tools for people of all levels in the workplace.

If you're experiencing distressing thoughts and feelings, the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is there to support you. They're open from 5pm–midnight, 365 days a year. Their national number is 0800 58 58 58 and they also have a webchat service if you're not comfortable talking on the phone.