Employees are undoubtedly under the authority of those in charge of their workplace. It is a known power imbalance that you agree to when you decide to submit to a new job offer. However, there are differences between what is considered a toxic place to work and when it crosses the line into unlawful acts.
Employers and employees may clash in opinions and personalities. However, actions taken to subvert the employee unnecessarily can raise suspicion of illegal discrimination. When this happens, employees need to know their legal rights to protect themselves from being fired or forced into a position to resign.
Here are some signs of legitimate toxicity at work:
Consistent communication failure— When the communication flow is damaged between employees and upper management, it signals a significant weakness in the company’s effectiveness to lead and produce results.
Misinformed policies— Not knowing what protocol and policies uphold the workplace is a problem. It is important to get consistent information in order to know what the expectations are and avoid chaos.
Ego driven leadership– Constant condescending behavior and lectures to employees is severely unhealthy to the morale and loyalty of a work team. In these types of workplaces it is common to see high amounts of employees quitting their job to find places that will appreciate their contributions.
These are just a few of the things that can make a job toxic and unbearable. Unlawful discrimination occurs when upper management terminates a person from their job in relation to age, race, religion, sexual orientation, pregnancy status and more. This happens when there is a change in management or whenever noticeable discrimination appears.
You don’t have to suffer unjustly
If you feel you are the victim of employment discrimination, consider legal counsel and action to hold the guilty party accountable for wrongful actions taken. Having as much evidence on hand as possible is helpful when discussing your rights with a legal professional. No one should be denied the ability to work based on personal characteristics protected by federal and state employment laws.
What are other signs of toxic work environments?
