Combating an Unhealthy and Toxic Workplace Environment

May 30, 2025

Writer: Christopher Jan Dumaguin
Researcher: Christopher Jan Dumaguin

TIME’S UP!

Nowadays, lots of working people experience and encounter abusive supervisors and bullies at their workplaces. Some management makes fun of, threatens, and creates disparaging comments about employees, which can cause their job dissatisfaction, dysfunction, and unproductivity to the organization at large. Though these cases are not new anymore as they happen day by day in any environment, however, these call the attention of many that we cannot just tolerate these actions, so whether we should let go of them or fight them, right? Time’s up! Just say yes.

Even the actions of a single toxic person can have ripple effects, creating more widespread discontent and conflict. In other words, one bad apple can spoil the whole barrel [1]. We are already surviving in a world where the majority is unkind, and the most possible thing that we should do is to support each other. That’s the idea. That’s how things should be. But that’s not the reality for many, empathetically speaking. And most times, the only thing that we can do is to cry our hearts out when we feel helpless and powerless as these unkind situations such as dealing with a toxic workplace are becoming inevitable, and worse, already becoming a culture as well in any work sector. 

The Subtle Art of Dead Malice (Dedma)

Toxic behaviors in the workplace are correlated with decreased work effort and quality, decreased engagement, burnout, distress, anger, depression, anxiety, trauma, and, not surprisingly, turnover [1]. Hence, these are critical for any organization seeking to retain and effectively utilize the highest quality employees to efficiently and fairly execute working operations for its goals, visions, and missions.

There goes a saying, “ignorance is bliss’’ which means sometimes, we find happiness and comfort in not knowing certain things and just deal with them on our own, so as to spare ourselves from stress and worrying. This may work for some, depending on their limitations, but others find it hard to just ignore and accept them, as intentional ignorance or denial prevents us from understanding challenges and tolerating difficult inner states. As a result, it becomes an obstacle to psychological well-being. Ignorance may often be blissful in the short term, but avoiding an issue can make it worse [2].

So, going back to the issue, is ignoring a toxic workplace environment the key to resolving?

Combating Workplace Toxicities: Recognize When and How to Let Go and Fight

A toxic working environment is one where we feel psychologically unsafe. There is often a general feeling of negativity, unhealthy competition, and aggression [3].

Research shows that a toxic workplace, including harassment, bullying, and ostracism, is a significant source of psychological strain for employees and can lead to high levels of stress and burnout [3].

This toxicity can also promote counterproductive behavior at work and ruin the organization’s efficiency. It causes employee disengagement, decreases productivity, stifles creativity and innovation, and results in high turnover [3].

The impact of a toxic workplace environment is perhaps felt within every organization, but due to personal reasons, very few of the workers are willing to lodge formal complaints against such behavior [5].

Direct interactions with “bad bosses” can be traumatic, but the problem often goes further than a single individual. Research has shown that abusive behavior, especially when displayed by leaders, can spread throughout the organization, creating entire climates of abuse. But organizations can also structure work environments that combat abuse by educating managers about all costs associated with abusive conduct; strengthening anonymous feedback channels where employees can report their experience without fear of retribution; and upholding and enforcing fair and equitable norms throughout the organization [4].

Practically, hereunder are a few things on how to handle a toxic working environment:

1. Remember, it’s not always your fault. The negativity at your job is not your fault. Although having a positive attitude and collaborative mindset may help in certain situations, remember that there’s only so much you can do to improve the culture at your work [3].
2. Simply set boundaries between work and personal life. As much as possible, try to limit opening up your personal life at work. Your workmates are not always your friends as you think they are.
3. Stay focused on your goals. You will not be here forever, and you have bigger and better things ahead of you [3].
4. Stick with a few trustworthy co-workers. It’s a good idea to keep a few work allies so you can support and confide in one another [3].
5. Don’t compromise your values. If someone at work is cruel to you, do your best not to respond in kind. Typically, it only escalates the situation [3].
6. Engage in regular stress-coping techniques. Take up meditation, yoga, or daily exercise to help you handle chronic stress [3].

The thing is, positive changes have been made gradually in some workplaces as a result of the many campaigns and programs worldwide to support mental health. The bottom line, if we cannot handle a toxic working environment through those practical ways or no changes despite all the efforts we have made just to overcome them, it’s better to reassess our worth and plan our exits, especially when the toxicity comes from leadership or is an organizational mindset. There will always be employers and management out there who support the overall well-being of employees, hence, prioritize mental health. After all, there is a healthy art of leaving and letting go.

Session Questions:

1. How does organizational support intervene between a toxic workplace environment and employee engagement?
2. How does prolonged exposure to a toxic workplace impact employees’ mental health, and what support systems should organizations implement to address this?
3. In what ways can mental health awareness be promoted within the workplace in preventing or mitigating toxic behaviors?

References:

1. Webb, E. et al. 2019. How to Navigate Toxic Behaviors at Work. Journal of American College of Radiology. Retrieved at: https://www.jacr.org/article/S1546-1440(19)30721-5/abstract 

1. Barker, R. 2025. Ignorance is Bliss – Meaning, Origin & Usage. History of English. Retrieved at: https://www.thehistoryofenglish.com/ignorance-is-bliss-meaning-origin-usage 

1. Juby, B. 2025. How to Deal with a Toxic Work Environment. Healthine. Retrieved at: https://www.healthline.com/health/toxic-work-environment#when-to-leave 

1. Priesemuth, M. 2020. Time’s Up for Workplace Toxicities. Harvard Business Review. Retrieved at: https://hbr.org/2020/06/times-up-for-toxic-workplace 

Rasool, S. et al. 2021. How Toxic Workplace Environment Affects Employee Engagement: The Mediating Role of Organizational Support and Employee Wellbeing. Retrieved at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7956351/