Job Hunting Guide 2023: Spotting Toxic Workplaces—Red Flags to Check Before Accepting the Work

Job hunting this 2023 can be difficult and trickier, especially since some toxic companies tend to have new methods about their workplaces' dark sides.

If you are looking for a new job and never experienced working in a toxic environment, here are the things you need to know to avoid bad companies.

How to Spot a Toxic Job Before Accepting It?

Job Hunting Guide 2023: Spotting Toxic Workplaces—Red Flags to Check Before Accepting the Work

(Photo : Richard Pohle/WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Workers at one of the 19 national pandemic flu service call centres in the country, answer calls from people concerned about swine flu, July 23, 2009 in London, England. Over 1500 people have been employed to man these call centres as concerns about swine flu increase.

Right now, toxic culture is one of the major reasons why employees leave their jobs. This was seen in the Great Resignation, which happened in 2022.

The main issue here is employees will quickly leave a job since they can't identify which company has a toxic working environment.

This will also affect your professionalism if you resign within a few weeks or months. If you want to know if the job you are applying for is not good before you start working, Forbes provided the red flags you need to look out for:

If bosses and employees are suspiciously polite-discouraging feedback, disagreements, and other things that can improve the company, there's a high chance it has a toxic working environment.
If there's a selected diversity, such as diversity in employees but not with the company's leaders.
If managers have toxic behaviors, such as establishing a negative competition among their subordinates.
If there's no good communication among employees. For example, you may see another worker in the same department or just in front of your desk but don't know their name, where they came from, etc.
If there's a fake flexibility. You will know this if your boss forces you to work eight hours straight on certain days without asking for your permission.

How to Identify Toxic Environment From Within?

(Photo : David McNew/Getty Images)
Job seekers look over job opening fliers at the WorkSource exhibit, a collaborative effort by governmental agencies to offer jobs and job training resources at the Greater Los Angeles Career Expo at the Pasadena Convention Center on May 14, 2009 in Pasadena, California.

Some companies are just too good at hiding their toxicity. If are already starting a job and want to know if the working environment is a bad one, Indeed provided the signs you can check:

Lack of Enthusiasm

Toxic work environments tend to lack enthusiasm. This means there are little to no positive conversations among employees and leaders.

Lots of Resignations

The most noticeable sign to look for is resignation. You can ask other employees to confirm if you hear rumors about the company's high turnover rate.

Gossip, Exclusion, and Cliques

Gossip and exclusions are not a big deal for many employees. This is why some workers form their groups, excluding other employees. Sadly, many of these cliques were formed just to bash or criticize others. With their negative behaviors, they can breed toxicity and spread negativity within the company.

Lack of Growth

If some employees tell you they have been working for the company in the same position for years, then it's a major red flag. This shows that the company you are working for lacks growth.