6 Signs of a Toxic Company Environment You Can See in an Interview

A toxic work environment is one of the main reasonsToxic culture is driving the great resignation / MITSloan Management Review layoffs. Experts identify several of its key features: unethical behavior, disrespect for employees, lack of equality, cultural and personal diversity and unity in the team.

Clearly, this is not just a bad day at work. It is a living nightmare when we do not stop thinking about the tyrant boss, even after returning home. It's a road to work filled with fear at the thought of having to deal with the hypocritical and mean again. colleagues. Of course, such an atmosphere is best avoided.

Here are a few danger signs that you can see in the interview that signal that the company you are applying for may be toxic.

1. You speak badly about employees

Employment lawyer Donna Bollman advises checking the company with one simple question: "What happened to the previous employee?" What a person says about others when they are not around shows how he will treat you as well.

“If you hear bad things about who held the position before, most likely this is a bad sign. And if the authorities speak badly of current employees, run. When employed at guiding Post ask to tell in detail about each in the department. Any unpleasant words about the team are a signal that this company is not for you, ”adds the lawyer.

Kevin Calloway, chair of the occupational health psychology department at Saint Mary's University, recommends looking for other signs of toxicity. environment: “Perhaps during a visit to the company you will notice someone who keeps aloof, or someone who is constantly made fun of other. These are all classic signs. bullying and ostracism that indicate unacceptable behavior.”

2. You are not allowed to communicate with other team members

With a healthy atmosphere in the company, everyone quite calmly talks about their work experience. In a toxic environment, the opposite is true: leaders strictly control communication in the team, including with potential employees.

“This is a sign that superiors do not trust subordinates. As a result, tension arises, the internal policy of the company is tightened, feedback is getting smaller, and leaders are micromanaging, ”says psychologist Laura Gallagher.

She also notes that refusing to communicate with other team members can signal an unhealthy relationship between the boss and employees. “If a company representative in an interview adheres to the principle “I am hiring, which means only my opinion matters,” he will behave in the same way in other situations. In a healthy corporate atmosphere, the phrase “Because I am the boss” does not exist,” the expert adds.

3. The company does not recognize its shortcomings

There is no perfect job. But in toxic companies, leaders often refuse to acknowledge that the enterprise or team has room to grow.

According to psychologists, refusing to be honest about weaknesses is a bad signal. "A company with a healthy atmosphere feels psychologically secure enough not to be ashamed of her vulnerability, Laura Gallagher is sure. - If the authorities show with their whole appearance that everything is perfect, they expect the same from their subordinates. Because of this, employees try to hide their mistakes, pretend that they understand everything, although they do not, and blame others if something does not go according to plan. Such toxic behavior deprives the collective of vital energy.”

4. The company defines success as "walking over heads"

According to Professor Manuela Prismut, who studies toxicity in the workplace, company representatives always try to create a positive image. That is why many signs of an unhealthy atmosphere can be almost invisible.

The expert advises to always read between the lines when it comes to company values. Phrases like “This is how we do it” or “This is how our industry is” show what organizational norms and standards are followed in the process of work. When such statements are used with a negative connotation, such as justifying micromanagement or being solely concerned with profit, the candidate certainly has something to think about. “If something seems offensive to you or does not meet your moral standards, this company is probably not for you,” the professor concludes.

To scout the situation, you can ask about the bonus system. If there are no clear criteria, it is quite possible that only those who are willing to cooperate with superiors receive the award. Cash bonuses as a priority way to reward subordinates is also a bad sign. This may be a sign of an unethical corporate culture. For example, many banking scandals in the US were tiedThe common bonus structures that can lead to corporate corruption scandals / Quartz at Work with a corporate culture condoning inappropriate behavior, say bribery or deception.

How the company's management defines success is another important indicator. If the boss talks about this in the context of a competition where there are winners and losers, he may be accustomed to cultivating rivalry among employees.

5. You are not told what agreements you will need to sign upon employment

An interview is the perfect time to figure out what the employer expects from you. Lawyer Donna Bollman warns that if company representatives refuse to answer questionsrelated to documents, it is worth thinking again.

“Be sure to ask if you need to sign any agreements. If yes, then ask for copies to study them before formal employment. Refusal may mean that there are items in the documents that you do not like, ”the specialist notes. She also advises carefully studying the history of the company for past scandals.

6. Company employees look unhappy

The atmosphere in the office is one of the biggest signals of toxicity or its absence. Donna Bollman recommends observing how employees communicate with each other.

“How were you received? Do people in the office look happy? Or are they trying not to make eye contact with you? Perhaps someone is shouting in the conference room? Are employees chatting in the break room or are they moving in and out just as quickly? All this will help to get an idea of ​​the “inner kitchen” of the company,” explains the expert.

Of course, it’s not very pleasant to spend a lot of time and effort on endless interviews that lead nowhere. However, it is better to listen to your intuition and turn down a position at a company where something confuses you than go to a toxic job every day.