Rising Above a Toxic Workplace

Regardless of whether you’re still going into work every day, or you’re carrying your duties remotely, working in a toxic environment can be a horrible experience.

In some workplaces personality clashes aren’t hidden, with colleagues being openly hostile or aggressive to each other.

In others, people’s contempt for those they work alongside can be more subtle with gossip damaging the personal or professional reputations of their intended targets.

Some people in positions of authority resort to bullying because of personal dislikes or because it’s their very poor attempt at a management style.

Possibly most damaging of all is when employees are shunned or ignored but those around them.

Such behaviours can be hugely damaging. The impact on anyone exposed to such a poisonous atmosphere can go far beyond not enjoying their work. Some people can be drained of confidence to the point that their mental health suffers.

For anyone who finds themselves in a toxic department or organisation, here are some suggestions on how to cope.

Don’t Join In

There is nothing wrong in confiding in a colleague when you are unhappy with something at work. If you disagree with a decision a manager has made or some feedback you’ve received, sharing your unhappiness with someone you trust is a natural move.

Indulging in workplace gossip is another thing entirely. Whether it’s face to face or via email, it may seem relatively harmless – but it’s not. The intended target can end up with a tarnished reputation, often based on a rumour that’s completely untrue. The consequences can be even more severe should the intended target find out what has been said.

And they may not be the only one to suffer. Colleagues may not trust you should you become known for making malicious comments about the people your work with.

Don’t Take Sides

There are many reasons why workplace grudges develop. Sometimes they are sparked by an individual incident or they can build up over time. Then, there are professional rivalries, where competitive colleagues see each other as a threat to their own career prospects.

Regardless of the circumstances, being caught in the middle of such conflict can be extremely difficult.

While it may be tempting to take sides, try to avoid becoming drawn into a situation that’s nothing to do with you. Instead, aim to maintain positive working relationships with everyone and remain neutral when it comes to bickering and squabbling.

Talk to Someone

When a team, department or organisation is so blatantly toxic, there’s a good chance that you won’t be the only one who notices.

Speaking with colleagues you trust about your concerns will hopefully result in you finding out that you are not alone. While it won’t make the problem go away, knowing that there are others who feel the same way you do will hopefully provide some short-term reassurance. If speaking to a stranger feels like a better option, consider contacting an employee assistance programme.

If the situation goes beyond an unpleasant atmosphere to bullying, then report it. Whether you’re the victim or it’s a colleague who is suffering, it takes courage to speak up – but it’s the right thing to do.

Think about your future

While you might be able to put up with a toxic atmosphere in the short-term, as time goes on even the most resilient and mentally tough individuals will feel it. And while working from home may offer some protection, don’t assume that it completely shelters you from whatever it is that is dragging your workplace down.

If there’s no sign of change, then it is time to move on. Your career, confidence and mental health could all be damaged if you don’t. If you feel able to be patient and wait for the right opportunity, then great. But if you’re struggling, try to get out as soon as possible.

While a negative experience may make you hesitant about moving and going through something similar again, it’s important to remember not every workplace is like this. There are plenty of positive, progressive and welcoming organisations out there.

Becoming the Boss

Promotion to a supervisory or management position for the first time represents a huge moment in any career. There’s an increased salary, more responsibility and hopefully the first of many steps up the ladder – if that’s what you want.

Being the boss also presents many challenges. As well as an increased and demanding workload, there’s conflict, workplace politics and potentially overseeing people who you used to work alongside.

Now, the situation is further complicated by managing remotely due to Covid-19.

The following pointers will hopefully help anyone who is leading a group of colleagues for the first time.

Avoid Power Trips

Management, regardless of how high up you are in the organisation, is about so much more than handing out orders to those who report to you. So, don’t let any added responsibility go to your head – you’ll quickly alienate your team and create a negative atmosphere.

Get to Know Your Team

It’s difficult to manage staff when you don’t know what makes them tick. That doesn’t mean interrogating anyone, it’s more about showing an interest. Finding out what an employee’s hope, dreams and personal circumstances are will make it easier to motivate them and get the best from them.

Be Approachable

“My door is always open.” So many managers say it, but how many mean it? Anyone reporting to you needs to feel comfortable approaching you, for work issues or more personal matters. Encouraging an open-door policy builds trust and respect.

Be Assertive

Too many people equate assertiveness with raising their voice and being forceful, behaviours which are aggressive. Instead, an assertive manager can stand up for themselves, and put their point across, while remaining calm and composed. They do this while recognising the thoughts and feelings of others.

Communicate Effectively

A manager must ensure staff know what’s expected of them and keep them up to date with any information that’s relevant to their role. But it’s a two-way street, so a good leader will also try to listen, and act upon, the thoughts and opinions of those who report to them. Deciding on the correct method of communication is also vital.

Make Decisions

One of the biggest changes many new managers notice is the amount of decisions they have to make on a daily basis – particularly those that impact on others. Sometimes they are routine, while others have a bigger impact on a team or department. Trust your judgment and you’ll be fine.

Don’t be Afraid to Ask for Help

Despite what said above, that doesn’t mean you have to do everything alone. If you genuinely don’t know the answer to a question or how to deal with an unusual situation, look to experienced colleagues for advice. Saying “I don’t know” isn’t a sign of weakness, it shows that you are self-assured enough to realise that nobody knows everything.

Lead by Example

When you’re in a management post, the way you conduct yourself will influence the way others behave. If you want a team that’s positive, hard working and able to deal with challenges or setbacks, you have to be all of those things. That doesn’t mean pretending that everything is always wonderful – it’s about having the right attitude.

Making the Most of an Appraisal

Appraisals, Performance Review Systems or whatever they are called by your employer, are treated very differently from one organisation to another.

Some firms take appraisals seriously, fully utilising them to the benefit of both employer and employee. Other companies, however, view the whole process as nothing more than a ‘tick the box’ exercise.

Regardless of how your organisation views it, your end of year review can be an important part of your career development. Here are some ways in which you can use your appraisal to your advantage.

Find Out How You’re Doing

While you won’t know what your line manager is going to say word for word, your appraisal meeting shouldn’t have too many surprises. If you’ve been receiving regular performance updates, you should have a fair idea of how you are progressing.

However, different managers have different ideas about feedback and how often it’s delivered. So, if it isn’t always easy to pin your boss down during the course of the year, use the meeting to find out exactly how well your are performing and what he or she thinks of you.

Highlight any Concerns

Any good appraisal meeting should be a two-way street. So, while any positive or negative feedback should not be new to you, the same should apply to any issues you have.

However, sitting down with your manager is an opportunity to discuss any problems or worries you have in more depth. It’s also a chance to push for an answer on any concerns you have raised during the course of the year.

Use Supporting Evidence

As mentioned above, you should be kept up to date regarding how you are performing against any targets set for you. Being aware of your results during the year puts you in a far stronger position as your approach the meeting with your boss.

If you want to challenge your appraisal grading, ask for a pay rise or show that you are ready for more challenges or responsibility, you can back up your claims with cold hard facts.

Plan Your Career

While an appraisal is largely a review of the year just past, it is also about looking ahead. If you are interested in progressing within your organisation, use the process to your advantage.

You can agree with your manager on objectives or targets that you can help you to move forward. This could include training (online, in-house or external), secondments or additional tasks. Seeing a clear route to the career you want can be a real boost to your confidence and motivation.

Formalise Any Requests

How often have you asked your supervisor about going on a training course or being allowed to complete a specific task? They agree and tell you they’ll sort it…then nothing. Your request has gone in one ear and out of the other.

By raising any issues of this kind at your appraisal, the manager involved will not only be obliged to record what you have asked, they’ll also need to revisit it in twelve months’ time. And if you haven’t been granted what you asked for, you’ll be perfectly entitled to query why not.

Healthy Ways to Travel to Work

For anyone not fortunate enough to be able to work from home, travelling to their place of employment is arguably as difficult as it has ever been. Cost and space have always presented challenges for anyone driving into town or city centres and there’s now the added problem of limited passenger numbers on public transport.

Fortunately, there are other ways of making the daily commute. These alternatives are not only better for your mental and physical health, they will save you money and prove less harmful to the environment.

Cycle

Many major roads have dedicated cycling lanes to make travelling by bike a safer and more pleasant experience. There are also off-road cycle paths across the UK. Town and city centres have bike racks in precincts and outside many large employers.

If the thought of all that pedalling worries you, make things easier by splashing out on a motorised bike which will make take some of the strain when you’re heading uphill.

Run

If you’re within a reasonable distance of your employer, then pounding the pavement is an ideal way to start the working day. By the time you arrive you’ll feels refreshed and ready for whatever the day throws at you.

Like cycling, running is work is much easier (and hygienic) if there are shower facilities at your workplace. Invest in a lightweight backpack for your change of clothes and any other essentials.

Walk

If your place of work can’t offer a shower then you won’t want to arrive at work in a hot, sweaty mess. So, walking is a more realistic option than the two mentioned above.

You can still burn off calories while taking in some fresh air and you won’t have to change your clothes unless it’s a warm day. If you’ve exerted yourself enough on the way in, you can catch a bus or train home. One other tip – buy an umbrella, you’ll need it.

Park and Walk

For health, fitness or location reasons, it’s not possible for some people to walk the whole journey to work. So, pick a distance that is more suitable.

Leave your car further away than usual from work and then walk the rest of the way. As you grow in confidence you can increase the miles you travel by foot and reduce the amount of money you spend fuelling your car.

Stairs

If you work several floors up in a building, then there is another way to fit in some morning exercise. And you can do it indoors.

Upon your arrival at work, ditch the elevator and walk up the stairs. Your legs will certainly feel the difference as should your overall health and fitness in the long run. And if you fancy a double session, do the same in the afternoon after your lunch break.

Home Working and Home Schooling

Home working can be tough. Home schooling can be difficult. So, as many parents will have found out over recent months, combining the two is extremely challenging.

And with many schoolchildren in the UK likely to return to school on a part-time basis, learning at home seems set to continue for some time to come.

Every parent’s homelife and family circumstances are different, so there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to striking a balance between carrying out your job and ensuring that your child’s educational needs are met.

However, the following tips will hopefully help you and your little ones thrive in the weeks and months ahead. Obviously, the effectiveness of this advice will depend on factors including the type of job, the age and number of children and the amount of space you have at home.

Talk to your Employer

If having the kids at home impacts on one or more aspects of your job, then speak to someone within your organisation. Be honest about any issues you face and together, you can work to resolve them.

This could include a change to your working hours or a colleague taking on some tasks for you.

Plan your day

It’s important to structure your day in a way that allows you to focus on what you’re doing but also helps you to meet your parental responsibilities.

If your role has the flexibility to allow you to carry out pieces of work when it suits, then do it. Start early while the children are asleep or work late after they’ve gone to bed. Also, use breaks to check in with the kids or help with schoolwork.

Set Boundaries

Regardless of how much you love spending time with your kids, there are times when you need to detach yourself from the rest of the family. If you’re answering customer phone calls, painting pictures or handling legal documents then you need to ensure that the little ones steer clear.

Set clear rules such as making a room a ‘no-go’ area or make sure they know that your laptop, workstation and anything else work related are off limits.

Include the Kids

If warning them off isn’t the right approach for your kids, then get them involved. Set them mini tasks linked to your job or, if they’re old enough, let them help for real.

Ask them for ideas or opinions, show them how spreadsheets work or let them act as your assistant. And if you can link any of it to what they’re learning at school then that’s a bonus.

Be Flexible

No matter how much you plan to be the perfect employee and home teacher there will still be tears, tantrums, bickering, spilled juice and messy rooms…and that’s just you.

Be ready to deal with any issues that arise during the day and amend your working day accordingly. Some days will be better than others but you’ll get there.

The Work from Home Revolution

Millions of people who hadn’t worked from home pre-lockdown now understand what all the fuss was about. Rolling out of bed five minutes before your start time, logging in to a laptop while still wearing pyjamas and comfortable in the knowledge that you will do a day’s work without going beyond your own four walls.

And it looks like many of those people who have long campaigned for home working will get their wish, with some companies considering closing offices and workplaces permanently.

As well as the obvious financial savings for organisations, there are concerns that some working environments will be unsuitable due to ongoing physical distancing requirements.

But, working from home isn’t for everyone. While it will be perfect for some, it will present challenges and difficulties for others. So, for balance, here are some of potential pros and cons:

Pros of Working from Home

No commute

No travel costs and not having to spend hours on a train or bus every week is a massive bonus. It will also allow job hunters to apply for posts with companies who are based further afield.

Wear what you want

Business suits and power dressing are out, comfy clothes are in. You’ll feel more comfortable and save money on ties and shoes.

Less anxiety

When the boss has a day off everyone feels just that little bit more relaxed – so imagine that feeling every day. You can work without someone constantly looking over your shoulder and there’s the added bonus of no more workplace gossip.

More flexibility

While some jobs (e.g phone based/customer service roles) have to be carried at set times, others allow for more freedom. You can set your own hours and fit them around the other parts of your life such as exercise, kids, shopping or home improvements.

Cons of Working from Home

Less social interaction

For a variety of reasons, some people’s only real contact with the outside world is at work. Taking that away can lead to increased feelings of isolation.

No team spirit

Some people tolerate their job because they love their working team or group. If that disappears then it’s just another job, carried out by a group of people scattered across a town, a city or even further afield.

Less experience of working environment

Any graduate or school leaver who goes straight into a home-based role will miss out on the benefits of an everyday working environment. No experienced staff to learn from and reduced social development.

Can get too comfortable

There is a fine line between feeling relaxed and being ‘too relaxed’ at work. When you’re surrounded by home comforts like television, the internet, your garden or your fridge, it can be easy to take your foot off the pedal.

4 Tips for Working from Home

As coronavirus (Covid-19) has swept across the globe in recent weeks, working from home has, for millions of people, changed from being a luxury to a necessity.

For many, this will be the first time they have carried out their jobs without leaving their own four walls.

In theory, working at home should be straightforward – you’re just performing the same role in a different place. But it doesn’t always turn out that way.

So, for any first-time homeworkers, here are some tips to help you cope over the next few weeks or months:

Act Like you’re at Work

No that doesn’t mean spending eight hours staring at a clock, nor does it involve hanging around the water cooler waiting to hear the latest gossip.

It’s more about having the right mindset and the same level professionalism you would have at your normal workplace. This could include getting dressed, setting yourself break and lunch times and having a ‘to do’ list. Having some structure to your day should help you get off to the right start.

Have Somewhere to Work

It doesn’t matter how big it small it is, or where in the house it is, but having a suitable workspace is a must.

If you’re fortunate enough to have a home office or a large dining table where you can go about your daily business then lucky you. If not, then you’ll need to be a bit more creative. A small folding table should be enough to hold a laptop, a mobile phone and a mug (for tea or coffee). So, even if your flat isn’t the biggest, then you should still have enough space to get some work done.

Avoid Distractions

Unless your normal workplace is completely silent, you should be used to a bit of background noise. In fact, a bit of music from the radio or anywhere else might even help.

However, if you live at a main road, think about working away from the window if traffic, roadworks or everyday life are off-putting. Likewise, be facing away from the television and if your other half is also working at home, make sure you give each other space, particularly if either of you is speaking with customers or colleagues on the phone.

Consider the Kids

Under normal circumstances you would be able to plough on with work from 9-3 while your children were at school. But the world we are living in now is anything but normal.

While teenagers will probably be happy to be left alone with a device, don’t worry about coming away from your laptop (if your job allows) to spend time with the little ones. If that means having a long lunch, playing in the garden or watching a movie, then do it – the work will be still be there when you return.

Studying and Working Part-Time

Studying full-time at college or university is demanding. As well as attending lectures, there are assignments and projects to complete along with preparing for and sitting exams.

And then there’s money.

For most students, taking on a part-time job is a necessary evil. It’s a method of supplementing a student loan and paying for course fees (for some), study materials and everyday living expenses.

Sure, a role like that can be a distraction, particularly around exam times when there are more important things you could be doing. But there are many benefits, other than financial, to taking on a part-time position while studying.

Increase Your Social Circle

Moving away from home to study can be a daunting experience. Not having family or friends can, in the first few weeks or months, be a lonely experience.

Going to work will hopefully provide some friendly faces amongst your colleagues and maybe even some friendships. No matter how strong or resilient you are, it’s important to have a support network, particularly if you are staying far away from everyone you’ve grown up with.

A Career Starting Point

When taking on a job to support their studies, many people opt for something casual that allows flexibility. The role itself isn’t important, it’s more about the hours and the rate of pay.

But a student job can also be the first rung on the career ladder. If you see yourself pursuing a career in retail, contact centres or journalism for instance, there’s nothing to stop you getting a part-time role while completing an HND or degree.

Gain Life Skills

When you go from school to college or university, you live most of your life in a world of essays, studying and attending lectures or lessons. It’s like being in an academic bubble.

But it doesn’t prepare you for the outside world. Taking on a job can provide much needed life experience like dealing with customers, cash handling, getting there on time and the responsibility of opening and closing a business premises.

A Break from Studying

No matter how much you love your chosen subject, stepping away from the books (or the website, or any other method of study) is a must.

Doing something completely different can help you relax, or at the very least, take your mind off from the stress and pressure that being a student can often bring.

Surviving the Working Day

Being bored or demotivated at work is a horrible feeling. You’re drained, frustrated and irritable…and it’s only 09:05. You’ve had enough of your job and know that it’s time for a change.

But finding a new job or career takes doesn’t happen overnight. So, while you’re planning your escape, here are some tips to help overcome the monotony of the working day.

Set Small Goals

If routine tasks are dull, try to make them more interesting. Set targets for anything from how many calls you take before your first break, to coming up with a process improvement idea by the end of the day.

Learn Something New

It could be a night class at the local college or an in-house e-learning course. Anything that stimulates you and stretches you mentally can only be a good thing.

Have Something to Look Forward to

Getting through your shift is easier when you have a reason to be excited about the end of the working day. Treat yourself to a takeaway or a nice bottle of wine if you’re staying in. Or, head out to the gym or the cinema.

Use Your Breaks Productively

If you need to switch off do it. However, if you do have any energy, go to the gym, fit in some studying or scour the job pages online. Make use of any free time, rather than wasting it moaning in the canteen.

Take Time Off

Sometimes, all that’s needed is a temporary absence. Take a couple of days (or longer if it’s needed) and switch off completely from all things work related. If you still feel the same about your job after you return, then perhaps it is time to move on.

Stay Positive

Finding a new job isn’t always easy. There may be rejection and disappointment before finally, someone recognises what you have to offer. Should this happen, remember how much you having going for you and that you’ll get your chance eventually.

Talk to Someone

If frustration or unhappiness at work begins to impact on your mental health then tell someone. Sharing your thoughts with a partner, a friend, a colleague or a medical professional is hugely important.