It’s a sad fact of life that any workplace will come with its grievances, such as gossip, missed deadlines, or drama. However, you shouldn’t have to put up with it on a regular basis, as that’s just not healthy. Therefore, you need to recognise when a job is doing more harm than good, especially if you’ve been there a while. To help you look out for such a situation, here is how you can tell when it’s time to leave a toxic workplace.
You’re Dreading Monday Mornings
Brits often joke about having the “Monday blues”, and this is normal to an extent–especially after a fun weekend. However, if Sunday evenings genuinely give you a sinking feeling, that’s more than just the usual reluctance to start the week. It signals deeper issues, such as fearing your overwhelming workload, poor treatment from colleagues, or a lack of purpose in what you’re doing. Therefore, when the thought of your job clouds your free time, it might be time to reconsider your role.
Your Health is Taking a Hit
Stress at work is one thing, but when it starts to manifest as physical headaches, exhaustion, or trouble sleeping, that’s a serious red flag. Toxic environments can affect your physical and mental well-being, and that’s not something you should tolerate. So, if you’re finding yourself constantly unwell, anxious, or burned out, it’s worth asking yourself whether your job is sustainable for your health in the long run.
The Culture Rewards Bad Behaviour
If cutting corners or undermining others seems to be how people succeed in your workplace, this might not be the right working environment for you. Ultimately, a culture that values results over ethics can, understandably, leave you questioning your own integrity. In reality, you should be working somewhere that allows you to stick to your values because otherwise, it will just erode your confidence over time.
Feedback Feels Like Punishment
Constructive feedback can be one of the most useful tools in the workplace, helping you to grow professionally. However, it absolutely should not make you feel small, yet this is all too common in toxic workplaces. Every mistake will be met with sharp criticism or public shaming, creating a culture of fear. That’s just not fair, so if it sounds familiar, it might be time to start thinking about searching for a new job.
There’s No Room to Grow
Some people are quite happy to stick with their current job role, valuing the stability that it brings, but for others, stagnation in a job can feel frustrating. Regardless of which boat you’re in, any decent workplace should provide development opportunities, such as through promotions, training courses, or feedback. If none of this is available to you and you’re trying to move forward in your career, don’t waste your time; find another employer who can provide this.
You’re Constantly Walking on Eggshells
Have you ever felt tension in your workplace that is so bad it makes you feel like you’re constantly walking on eggshells? If so, that’s not normal, and your workplace is probably toxic. At the end of the day, a workplace where you can’t feel comfortable being yourself isn’t likely to support your best work, so maybe it’s time for a change.
Gossip and Cliques Dominate
You might have expected to leave your gossiping days behind you when you left secondary school, only to find it appearing once again in your workplace. Professional conversations might be replaced by whispered complaints and exclusionary behaviour, upsetting you or perhaps even tempting you to join in. Either way, this isn’t professional by any meaning of the word, so you should probably ditch this toxic environment for something more wholesome.
Promises Are Always Broken
Another sign that it’s time to leave a toxic workplace is if you’ve been promised opportunities, raises, or changes, only for them to never materialise. This shows a complete lack of respect for your time and effort, with these empty promises from management likely being used to manipulate you. That’s just not fair, so you should raise this concern with your manager, and if nothing changes, jump ship.
You Feel Undervalued
Nobody should feel undervalued in their workplace. Perhaps it feels like your ideas are being ignored, or your hard work is going unnoticed. Regardless of the exact situation, being treated as replaceable and not getting the credit for where it’s due is just not fair. Don’t just put up with this for the sake of keeping the peace; speak up or move on.
There’s a High Staff Turnover
One of the more subtle signs that your workplace is toxic is if there seems to be a revolving door of colleagues. Such rapid turnover is not normal and is a warning sign that something’s not right. Essentially, it means that people aren’t willing to stick around, so if you’re new to the company and have noticed this, you should ask yourself why that is.
Toxic Behaviour is Tolerated
It should go without saying that no professional workplace should tolerate toxic behaviour. When bad behaviour goes unchecked, such as bullying, discrimination, or harassment, it sends a message that the workplace doesn’t care about its employees’ well-being. Ultimately, if you’ve raised concerns and nothing’s changed, it’s unlikely the culture will improve any time soon, so we’d recommend taking your skills elsewhere.
The Workload is Unrealistic
It’s nice to be kept busy at work, but if your to-do list keeps growing no matter how hard you work, and there’s no support in sight, that’s not healthy. Unrealistic workloads in a toxic environment can leave you feeling constantly behind, unable to ever catch a break. Overall, such a job that consistently demands more than is reasonable might not be worth the toll it takes.
Communication is Poor
Communication is one of the most important and basic tools in a workplace, ensuring that important information is shared with everyone to keep things running smoothly. Therefore, if you notice that communication is withheld or muddled, your workplace is eventually going to become an unpleasant place to be. It’s possible that this can be fixed, but if you explain the problem to your manager and nothing changes, ask yourself whether you really want to put up with this in the long term.
You’re Always in Fight-or-Flight Mode
If your job keeps you in a constant state of high alert, it’s likely affecting your mental health. Feeling anxious about what each day will bring, such as an unexpected crisis or a blow-up from a difficult boss, is inevitably going to leave you feeling exhausted. Unsurprisingly, long-term stress like this isn’t sustainable or healthy, so why are you still tolerating it?
Your Friends and Family Are Worried
Sometimes, the people around you notice the negative impact of a toxic job before you do. Because of this, if your friends or family have commented on how stressed or unhappy you seem, don’t just brush off their perspective. Outside observers often see the bigger picture, and their concerns can be a wake-up call, prompting you to make changes.
You’ve Stopped Caring
When the motivation to do even the bare minimum at your job fades, that’s a clear sign that you’ve mentally checked out and need to move on. You probably weren’t like this when you started, but over time, the toxic nature of the workplace has drained your enthusiasm and left you feeling disconnected from your role. If all of that sounds familiar, do the right thing and leave.
You’re Constantly Thinking About Leaving
Last but not least, the clearest sign that your workplace is toxic and that it’s time to leave is if you keep on thinking about doing exactly that. Perhaps you’re daydreaming about quitting on the daily, researching other jobs, or picturing life without your current role. Whatever the situation, you’re having these thoughts for a reason, so trust your instincts and act accordingly–only you can do that.
