10 Toxic Work Spaces That You Should Know

On Friday, Kenyans, especially young people took to the social media with the hashtag #ToxicWorkSpaces.

The hashtag brought to the surface the numerous challenges and sufferings that most employees go through at their work spaces.

According to most young people, a majority of them are holding on unto their “toxic” jobs for lack of an option and for the hope of survival for another day.

The unemployment rate in Kenya is said to be at 39.1 percent, the highest in East Africa with more than 90 percent of the unemployed force being young people.

What are some of the toxic  work spaces that you should know?

Where You Are Not Appreciated

They say that walking away from a table where you are not appreciated is not pride, but self-respect.

Be where you are appreciated for the little efforts you put in. When you are where your contribution is appreciated, it propels you to another level of satisfaction.

There are some work spaces where however hard you work, however much effort you put in, you will never be appreciated or acknowledged.

Where You Are Not Respected

Respect is two way. You respect to be respected. Respect is not demanded but commanded. You command respect with respect.

Where you find yourself “respecting” someone who does not replicate the same just because he/she is at a higher position than you, then that stops being “respect” and turns into “fear”.

Where There Is No Room To Grow

A work space that does not give you room to grow is a toxic one. As a human being, we grow by learning.

Growth at work spaces occurs when you meet new challenges, given new responsibilities and given to handle them in your own creative way.

Growth at work space is not about promotion (not always) but about being better compared to how you came in.

Where You Are Not Trusted

Trust is like a glass. When it breaks, the pieces can be put together but the cracks will always show.

Trust is the invisible power, currency and force among individuals, in a company or organization that should never breached.

If you are always doubted at your work space, not trusted with any meaningful responsibility and always questioned on any task that you partake, then that is toxic.

Where You Are Always Belittled Before Everyone

This toxic trait sometimes goes hand in hand with lack of respect but it stands on its own.

In a good work space, when you do something wrong, reprimand doesn’t happen in “public” but in a “dignified” place that will make you “change”.

In a good work place, when a reprimand happens in ” public”, it is done in a manner aimed to correct you, make you grow without discouraging, belittling or making you fell “less” than the rest of the team.

Where Your Duty is Only To Be “Seen” and Not To Be Heard

Ever been told that “you are only here to work, be seen and not to be heard”? That is toxic.

A good work space is where your opinion matters or if not, it is listened to.

This doesn’t mean that you put your nose in every issue at your work space in order to be noticed. No. It only means that if you have something to say or a view to give, it is listened to and at least considered.

Where There Is No Teamwork

Team work is the ability for a group of people to work together with an aim of achieving a common goal.

In some work spaces, teamwork means an individual who works as a team for the credit of the pack.

Teamwork helps you grow and measure your abilities against those of others better than you within and without your field.

A work space without teamwork is a toxic one.

Where it is ” YOU” when Things Go Wrong and “I” When Things Go Right

Have you ever worked at a place where when everything goes wrong you must carry the responsibility and when something is okay, others get the credit and not you?

That is a toxic work space.

Where There Is Neither Sympathy Nor Empathy

Do you work at a space where all that matters is that the work is going on and nothing about what you feel or what you are going through? Do you get any support when bereaved, sick, depressed or going through any challenge?

Where You Are Not Paid Well

This is not a big contributor of “toxity” at work space but it matters to a great extent. What is your remuneration? Does is go hand in hand with what you do?

Traits of a Good Work Space

1. Appreciation

2. Respect

3. Listened to

4. Empathy and sympathy

5. Teamwork

6. Paid well

7. Collective responsibility

8. Trust

9. Growth

10. Valued.