To ensure your business is successful, you need to create a workplace where people can thrive. Jasmine Anderson is the HR Business Partner of office company Canvas Offices and she offers a solution to toxic corporate cultures.
In today’s competitive business environment, toxic culture is not just an internal problem. It’s a major threat to the long-term survival and success of any company, affecting everything from productivity to recruitment costs.
Unfortunately, business leaders and management teams tend to prioritize their bottom line over the well-being of their employees. This may be temporary, but the long-term consequences can be disastrous. A report from the UK’s HR software provider BREATHE found that toxic corporate culture costs SMEs £15.7 billion each year.
This is illustrated by the global transportation company Uber. After failing to address sexism, an employee created a 2,900 word blog post which went viral. The global outrage was so great that Uber’s CEO Travis Kalanick was forced to resign. In addition, the company paid $4.4 million in settlement charges filed by the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
It is important that management teams take action when employees are feeling disengaged, burned out, or abused. They should review their management style and policies. Failure to do so could have severe consequences. Senior management teams need to learn how to identify and solve problems.
Understanding toxic culture, its causes and impacts
When employees feel unsupported or undervalued and mistreated, toxic cultures can develop. This can be manifested in many different ways. It could include unachievable goals, high turnover, and a lack respect and trust. Employees who work in a toxic environment lack confidence in their leaders and feel they cannot speak up and that their voices are not heard. According to a study by the Chartered Management Institute, one third of employees, including managers, quit their jobs due to a toxic work environment. This statistic could cost businesses talented staff who may end up working with a competitor.
A healthy workplace is not something that should be taken for granted. It’s important to all businesses. It is the basis for employee engagement, satisfaction and productivity. Toxicity can damage your company’s reputation and reflect poorly on your brand. Management teams should take specific measures to avoid it.
Proactive strategies to create a healthy workplace culture
1. Communication
It is not an easy task to change toxic cultures and it requires the involvement of everyone in your company. Communication is the easiest and most effective way to bring about positive changes in an organisation. This includes senior leaders. Senior members of the organization must be able to deliver any type of news, positive or negative, as well as updating the team on company decisions. It is important to let staff members have their say and express themselves in any decision-making process. This is essential for fostering trust and mutual respect, as well as smooth operations both within the company and between employees.
2. Feedback Sessions
Regularly implementing structured feedback sessions between managers and their employees can help to build connections in the workplace. It will enable colleagues to communicate with each other on an individual basis and express concerns, which can be then discussed with HR or managers. Anonymous feedback is another option that could be useful for employees who are hesitant to express their opinions. No matter how you share information or how your employees like to express themselves, accepting new perspectives can help build employee trust.
3. Comprehensive Training
Every organisation should invest in training about workplace bullying and bias, as well as conflict resolution techniques and communication methods. Your company will grow if you provide your senior management and employees with the tools to manage conflict in the workplace.
4. Prioritising cultural health
There will always be growth challenges in small or startup companies. It is important to be part of a team which prioritizes cultural health for your employees’ happiness and success. By investing in a “people leader” or team, you can support growth through training sessions, communication channels, and empowering conversations between junior employees and management.
Leading Change in Your Workplace
It is important to understand the toxic environment in your workplace and take the necessary steps towards change. Employees will begin to develop trust by senior staff demonstrating transparency, inclusivity, and a commitment towards communication. Leaders should not only communicate a vision of a healthy workplace culture but must also back it up with consistent actions. This can be achieved by prioritising transparency, training and involving other company members in the decision-making process. Businesses need to create a culture which attracts talent, and empowers their employees by allowing them to be heard and respected.
