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When to know if it’s time to go and move on

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Discerning Red Flags in the Workplace

Danah Gutierrez

<p>Our days are only comprised of 24 hours, and if 8 to 10 hours are allocated for and consumed by work, then it’s just right that it’s a space we don’t just feel productive in, but also one where we feel valued, safe, and secure in. Our work eats up most of our conscious hours, and it means investing one&#x27;s time, intellect, skills, and gifts. Even during the initial moments of the first man on earth, God gave Adam work to do. Fast-forward to our now hyper-digital and modern-day world, we still have the deep, innate need to use our minds and talents, and find something fecund to do.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/98b9d7fb-92f6-4c60-989d-710a49618691_toxic_workplace1.png" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt=""/></span></span></div><p>If this aspect of our life takes so many days, gives us a sense of purpose, and rewards us with wages plus other benefits, then perhaps a job isn’t just a job, since it has so much power over our total well-being. It makes us either flourish or shrivel as individuals, depending on our engagement with our work environment. Our jobs can be the pathway to build our self-esteem and self-efficacy, discover our place in society and community, sharpen our existing skills, and even push us to develop new ones. But what should we do when our workplace ideals are crushed by the opposing harshness of reality? When our hopes for productive thriving are broken by workplace toxicity?</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Related Story: </strong><a href="/wellness/health/top-wellness-trends-for-2024/37315" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Top Wellness Trends for 2024, According to Experts</a></div><p>According to <strong>Alvin Gutierrez</strong>, an <strong>Assistant Professor </strong>in <strong>De La Salle University </strong>teaching<strong> Strategic Human Resources and Organization Development </strong>at the<strong> Ramon V. Del Rosario College of Business</strong>, “A toxic workplace is where employees do not see any boundaries around work. This means they are on-call almost 24/7, with a strong presence of micro-managers, where people do not trust each other. This makes members of the company treat fellow colleagues with contempt, whether known or unknown by them. Gaslighting becomes a common norm leading to unhealthy interpersonal relationships. Simply put, the beginning of workplace toxicity is rooted in your values, beliefs, and ideals being contradicted.”</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/386af42d-1899-4052-b70c-19827032cdf8_toxic_workplace.png" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt=""/></span></span></div><p>Just August of last year, <strong>Philippine News Agency</strong> reported that a staggering 29% of employees want to leave their current employers. That’s almost a third of the country’s working force. To break it down further, <strong>C. Salva</strong>, a Human Resources (HR) Manager for over eight years, weighs in. According to Salva, here are the 3 most common workplace complaints of Filipino employees:</p><div><br/></div><ul><li>Compensation and benefits do not match the level of work demanded and/or exerted by employee</li><li>Workplace culture (bad social dynamics like poor communication, disrespect for opinions and boundaries, and an overall lack of concern when employees express fatigue or burnout)</li><li>Bosses or superiors who credit-grab and do not properly merit deserving employees</li></ul><br/><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/464eef08-c5d2-48ea-8ba7-a394cf90668e_pexels-tara-winstead-8386522.jpeg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt=""/></span></span></div><div><strong>Related Story: </strong><a href="/wellness/mind-and-spirituality/what-is-burnout-and-how-to-deal-with-it/33467" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Are You Burnt Out? Here&#x27;s How To Deal With It!</a></div><p>Here are other red flags to be mindful of and vigilant to if you’re in a season of assessing your current work environment, as Salva insightfully shares:</p><ol><li><strong>High attrition rate</strong>. Check if those in key positions (Team Heads/Department Heads, especially the pioneers) have stayed in the company for only 2 years or less. Few years clocked in by leads and/or pioneers may be a telling sign that the culture is too much to stand and stick to. This means the new hires will end up cleaning the mess or tying loose ends from the previous leads’ initiatives, and established processes.</li><li><strong>Top-down leadership.</strong> If superiors don’t seem to trust you and your expertise, they might be too attached to control and micro-management. They might also have a narrow view of achieving goals and assert that theirs is the only correct way. Worse, they cultivate a blind-obedience mindset, where people who have different views are discarded or labeled difficult. In contrast, leaders who are collaborative, engaging, and welcoming to other perspectives are green flags to appreciate. </li><li><strong>Bypassing of standard processes.</strong> If no representative from HR interviewed you as a candidate for a position, and jumped straight to the hiring managers, this probably means there is an internal fire that they are trying to contain. It is important that there is an HR practitioner who gives you the job offer and explains to you the details of the job contract. Remember, the role of HR is to help ensure the sustainability and growth of the company by taking care of its employees’ welfare, while helping keep employee satisfaction above average, or even higher.</li><li><strong>Many negative company reviews from previous or current employees.</strong> Do a personal survey and ask other people’s experiences about the company’s culture if you can get connected to some employees, or even previous ones. You may also read online on job posting sites and check out company reviews, such as Glassdoor. You may gain necessary insights before your next move.</li><li><strong>Secret-keeping. </strong>Withholding key information from other employees and keeping secrets is a telling sign of an overly competitive work environment. </li><li><strong>Premature promotions.</strong> If other employees climb the ranks too fast, too soon, odds are, there’s a lot of corporate politicking that goes around. </li><li><strong>Negative social interactions. </strong>Pay attention to how people interact. Do they complain about management often? Do they gossip heavily and backstab? Do they feel undervalued and unheard when expressing valid and factual concerns? Are people threatened and/or shut down when they speak up? Is it the leaders who model these negative social interactions? Culture is perpetuated by people in position, and if it starts with them, sadly, it won’t end soon. </li><li><strong>Work:wage imbalance. </strong>If you are constantly overworked and underpaid, it’s time to go. Your paycheck may not even be enough to cover for the health concerns you are risking with chronic work fatigue and burnout. </li></ol><div><br/></div><div><strong>Related Story: </strong><a href="/wellness/mind-and-spirituality/why-we-need-a-dopamine-detox/35103" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Why We Need A Dopamine Detox</a></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/6f62e821-7020-4ebb-9388-99f9725ed8d8_jason-goodman-vbxyfxlgpjm-unsplash.jpeg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt=""/></span></span></div><p><strong>Nikki Santos</strong>, 33, an Operations Manager from a small-time, start-up agency testifies about the positive outcome that came along with her courageous resignation from her previous toxic workplace. </p><div><br/></div><p>“After I left a toxic workplace that bred a culture of gaslighting, manipulation, and nasty gossiping (as led by upper management), it felt like I was set free from corporate hell. It gave me back my freedom to be true to my values and be myself again. I no longer had to participate in superficial interactions. I no longer had to fake-laugh at my boss’ petty jokes, and pretend that I liked his misogynistic sense of humor. I no longer had to question my sanity from the constant gaslighting they did when we would ask for more headcount to help with the workload burnout. More importantly, I HAD MY LIFE BACK. I had so much time to reconnect with the people who matter to me and do things that bring me joy, or do nothing at all, without feeling guilty for it. It took awhile, but I also started to feel at peace pursuing new beginnings and building new professional relationships with people who are honest and worthy of my hard work and service.”</p><div><br/></div><p>Prolonged periods in a toxic work environment can make one’s mental health diminish, together with physical, emotional, social, and even spiritual health. But knowing your value and worth must push you to take the courage to leave. Always trust your intuition. Loyalty becomes hostage when you aren’t valued and treated right. </p><div><br/></div><p>Remember, you cannot heal in the same environment that made you sick. Oftentimes, moving on means opening doors to much better things ahead. This 2024, bravely let go of what no longer serves you, so you can focus on being the best new you.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Related Story: </strong><a href="/wellness/mind-and-spirituality/mental-health-organizations-philippines/33958" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ask For Help: Hotlines And Orgs You Can Reach Out To For Mental Health Support</a></div>