5 Signs You’re In A Toxic Workplace

[@number1cde]

So sad that HR doesn't care a lot of times.

[@Rareprune]

They’re there to protect the company, they don’t give a shit about the employees.

[@Sheila-rj6pm]

HR is there for the company, not the employees!

[@ballaholic1068]

I guess we won’t talk about how they’re typically extremely overpaid lol

[@tiffanyrutter1768]

HR are bullies themselves usually.

[@MattmanDude44]

1:23 is when he starts talking about the signs

[@ornellamadira4585]

I used to judge people who quits but now i understand them very well.

[@AntonJGunn]

Yes, we can't judge people who leave. These moral injuries can have a big impact.

[@KO-im6sm]

My company has people that have been there for over 33 years. When new people come in, they eat them up.

[@999timepass]

Everywhere

[@annakempinsky3825]

it's not ok.

[@jpye8989]

I quit a job after 9 weeks working there. It has 4 signs out of the 5 that you listed.

[@AntonJGunn]

I am sorry that you had that experience. Unfortunately too many people are stuck working in toxic workplaces. I’m glad you got out. My goal is to rid the world of toxic workplaces so you don’t have to quit. I have the blue print for a world class culture. Now I’m trying to share it with the world.

[@tomm1583]

@@AntonJGunn I have been working at a toxic workplace for 3 years now. The top person is a micro manager and actually will sit there and tell managers how to write emails and other correspondence to clients and vendors outside the company. My boss is constantly swearing and complaining about the top person and will call this person a fraud. He is always complaining about his job, too. The situation has definitely affected me and want to just quit for my sanity.

[@AntonJGunn]

@@tomm1583 Wow! It is crazy to read that you have been in this type of environment. It is toxic and just so wrong. I just finished a national research study called The State of Workplace Injustice, and 66% of the people we surveyed share your experience. 23% of them said this happens to them every month. It definitely affects their mental health and well-being.

[@Harrybrown4570]

Jobs are a dime a dozen but you can change that place into what you want it to be

[@justbeegreen]

@@Harrybrown4570not unless you’re in a system that is inherently harmful and considered “normal”. And people will fight to go back to that “normal” and take people down with them. It will take a movement, not one person, to see a tiny change- I was naive to think that I could change a system - it has crushed me. You need buy-in/people taking ownership for their environment. This quote reminds me to align my mental well being with my values: it is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society. (J.D. Krishnamurti)

[@bluemouse5039]

When I was 64 years old while I was still working at my old job, I was making some small talk to some co workers that I thought were long time friends and said I'm thinking about retiring when I hit 65, then we were discussing pros and cons of retiring and ended it with I don't know just pondering the idea or just work till I'm 66 and 8 months my full retirement age and after talking about I sort of forgot about it, Anyway the next day at work ,I noticed some of the upper management that I got a vibe of hostility and glaring looks, then at 10:30 the company manager calls me in and says , We hear your thinking of retiring! My first thought was God Damn! its like living in the Soviet Union here with the KGB or informants reporting all my comments , Then he says, Well you have to give us at least 3 months, so we can train somebody else! I said Why you wouldn't give me 3 months notice if you were getting rid of me! I wanted to say , I don't have to give you shit! You owe me, I'm the one that labored for 41 years in this hell hole and should have quit 30 years ago when I was young enough to get something better but was dumb enough to stay here, I left there 2months later on my 65th birthday

[@AntonJGunn]

Wow! That sounds horrible! You gave your life to that company, and you should have been treated much better than that. I am sorry that you went through that. That is definitely not a good culture. What industry was this in?

[@helenewebster9462]

I was a victim of Hostile Work Environment based on reported Discrimination, Retaliations Mobbing, and Whistle Blower etc.

[@AntonJGunn]

I am so sorry to hear this. Did you have a good outcome after it was reported?

[@D.S-b5f]

Had my fare share of it, was discriminated by HR due to my health and threatened with disciplinary if I don't achieve unreasonable target I was told before it's ok if I don't. And this is because I refused to do my colleague's job (cover them) in different role because that environment they were going to was triggering my PTSD and they wouldn't give me support. I'm still in same company transferred to different site but that HR person left thank f*cking God. And I only transferred because I was doing two people's jobs and was severely underpaid and passed for promotion my previous manager promised.

[@AntonJGunn]

Wow! I am so sorry to hear of this situation. Man, that place sounds horrible. Especially if HR was enabling the bad behavior. How long have you worked there? Been there too long to just move on? Or do you love what you do?

[@D.S-b5f]

​@@AntonJGunnit's my passion career, I've been working for them nearly 6 years. I haven't been bullied or had bad managers per se there, mostly supportive but even after transferring I noticed extremely high turnover and sickness of staff in new place and managers can be unsupportive sometimes or have small digs at me and colleagues for minor things despite doing great job and adding a lot of positive contribution to actual organisation. I noticed I get frustrated and resentful a lot despite job conditions are good in general, IT suc.ks though 😅. I was told by my new supervisor after I transferred that there was scapegoating before also so I'm not trusting them very much especially after bad work experiences before and always on high alert for any bullying, one colleague complained to me already about the boss.

[@D.S-b5f]

​​@@AntonJGunnIdk if you got my reply but yes I love what I do, it's my passion career, been in company this month will be 6 years. Even in new place I cannot stand some things like small digs despite doing job very well or colleagues leaving like rats from sinking ship. One colleague complained to me being abused by boss who treats me nice, I believe her, she gathering evidence, not having enough space to do my job more efficiently. So I'm thinking changing job and company in the future completely. Job itself is not a problem, it's management and company culture I suspect. I do get positive feedback too but still I somehow hate it lolz😅

[@justbeegreen]

@@D.S-b5fI feel this! It’s not the clients/customers/ students- it’s the management and sometimes colleagues that make the workplace. No wonder why people have fought to work remotely. If I could go back to that, I would do that in a heartbeat.

[@jeffrains6404]

Alot of times HR will discipline both parties right or wrong with no investigation. Even if u are harassed or threatened. U can't tell them. U will be singled out and then possibly a victim of mobb bullying. They discipline both parties to avoid responsibility. It's really sad and really common these days. At least where I work

[@ykst6685]

damn, i was the subject of a insensitive remark by a colleague and has been a blue eyed boy of the director. my boss and I did a complaint on my behalf. the HR director decided to discipline both me and the colleague who started it. even though it was the other guy who started the comment. HR director said i was disciplined because of the way i made a report. total gaslighting. learnt another HR trick the hard way.

[@TrudyLetson]

I'm dealing with this at work now

[@Rich_and_poor]

😢 is it getting better?

[@om3ga85]

Me too 😢

[@slick051380]

I left my job today due to last week my boss yells at me in front of all my employees as HR was standing next to me. He says “when i f*** tell you to do something you f*** do it. “

[@AntonJGunn]

Oh my God! That is unbelievable! I am so sorry that has happened to you. HR was standing right there?

[@slick051380]

@@AntonJGunn thank you. Yup she was standing there next to me. This was after i told her how i felt about the place. Like they’re all about numbers and don’t care for the people. The owners are cheap and won’t get my powder new equipment but they will sit there and ask why we have rework. I told her i can’t manage my guys when my boss is constantly telling me what to tell my guys what to do. If osha went there they would be fine big time. Lol i called them out on a lot of things and they did nothing about it. I enjoyed this video by the way. You nailed everything about the job i just left.

[@AntonJGunn]

@@slick051380 Wow! That is crazy. I am glad you got out of there. I am glad you enjoyed the video.

[@tinafurler8279]

I just left after 2 weeks my god no communication it was a nursing care facilities it was terrible .

[@Warmblanket649]

I'm a home care aide and baaaaaaby let me tell you it's very horrible, full of jealousy among immature so call women. I do one on one with no family in the home at all.

[@triconcert]

Super! Thanks for identifying these signs. I've experienced them all. Definitely toxic. Moving on....

[@AntonJGunn]

I hope you have found a better opportunity.

[@istvantoth7431]

The first three points here are absolutely valid. Just got out of a place like that. I can confirm those by experience.

[@AntonJGunn]

I am sorry that you went through that experience.

[@ilovesunflowersunny2098]

These were good❤ i am thriving at my toxic workplace 😂lol..i think people should learn that art! Am thriving because I am so aware of what is happening, and being able to predict the outcomes, so it's funny. My manager has been so discriminatory, shares people information and palys alot on favoritism and rewards bad behavior. So i have let her know indirectly ofc, that i see how she moves and now I have the upper hand. Employees, usually open up to me and complain about the manager to me. And they feel are so drained by her. Many of them actually mentioned how they feel she is afraid of me😂 and i genuinely feel like she gets anxiety or stutters when she talks to me😂😂

[@AntonJGunn]

I am glad to hear that you are thriving. However, it sounds like the rest of your coworkers are struggling right now. I am afraid if the situation is not addressed, it could become more hostile and lead to some significant negative outcomes.

[@ilovesunflowersunny2098]

@AntonJGunn that's true. Thanks for your concern! Teaching the employees how to stand up for themselves "politely", and to send in their complains on a text or email. And never initially speak about it but write it. So that it is all documented. Apparently, she responds way better when you write her the problems/complaints than speak to her. Really strange, but it works🤷🏽‍♀️

[@genaro5766]

Toxic workplace over here FOR SURE .

[@AntonJGunn]

What industry are you in?

[@genaro5766]

@@AntonJGunn monument building .

[@harvemedharvemed7796]

I am FMLA due to micro-aggression and reporting to a person that was reported to legal and then promoted as an A.D. while out I have ppl texting me who has never called to check on me when sick before. They are just being nosy and want gossip.

[@AntonJGunn]

I am so sorry that you are having that experience.

[@sherryporter3795]

I need help in the workplace with this toxic culture. I live in a small town iñ KY where I left as a small child and I'm back. In this town everything is still at a stand. I've been the only black total of 6 and the first black to work in this office of older women that's been there for years. Everything you said is the culture in the office. The woman that's been there the longest is "the manager without the title" and she said no one in our office deserves a job after losing our manager. Now she is moving forward on each worker to dictate to our new manager how things are going to be. She is very young and black and listens and obeys her every word but doesn't realize she's controlling her. The coworker is VERY miserable at home and drinks excessive alcohol and these are her words. She wanted us to be friends outside of work but I told her no. I am single, I do not drink, smoke and could care less about her problems. Now she is spread complete and utter lies about me. We work across from each other and it is very intense since I proved her lies to be false. She exhibits narcissistic and bipolar traits after openly saying she goes to the mental health office. She has 10 years of work knowledge. Please advise

[@AntonJGunn]

I am so sorry that you are dealing with this kind of work environment. I think we could be helpful. Here is the first best step. Please take this survey and be sure to fill in your contact information so we can follow up: workplacecultureassessment.com

[@b.lloydreese2030]

1) youre working.

[@stevenwalter5741]

Great video man. Yeah I work where we meet all 5 of those pieces of criteria 😂 I’m trapped though and cannot go somewhere else because of the benefits for my kid. Probably 10x more qualified to be the manager than the manager is😂. I just have to suck it up. It’s humiliating but is what it is.

[@AntonJGunn]

Man, that sucks that you are stuck in this kind of environment. But I totally get staying somewhere to benefit your children. Millions of people do it every year. I hope you maintain a positive mindset and do not allow the toxic behavior to affect you while you are there.

[@Traysee379]

I hope and pray things get better for you. It’s like you have to find a safe place at work if you can. Just know you’re the bigger person to stay at that place and take care of your children doing so.

[@aims4usa]

Excellent tutorial! Thanks!

[@AntonJGunn]

Thank you!

[@Manager-8472]

Toxic working environments that are in the public sector can decline to bottom without going out of business - because of their essential public service role. However that can then result in persistent poor working environments and public service provision.

[@urbanerose4095]

My organization has all five of these markers and it is a real cesspool.

[@AntonJGunn]

Wow! What industry are you in and is there anyone in the organization doing anything to improve the cesspool?

[@urbanerose4095]

@ I am in government. The management’s way of handling it is to sweep it under the rug, promote and reward those who facilitate the toxicity, gaslight and push out those who are courageous enough to hold them accountable, and re-write facts and history to cover up the dysfunction.

[@AntonJGunn]

@@urbanerose4095 Yes, I have worked in both State and Federal Government...I have seen these same practices.

[@olilumgbalu5653]

I recently interviewed at several hospitals and all of a sudden, my KZbin suggestions is full of videos about toxic workplaces. Hmmmm. Is every place I interviewed at toxic? Are there any hospitals out there that aren't toxic?

[@AntonJGunn]

Thank you for your comment. When you interviewed, did you get the sense that those hospitals were toxic? Or did you leave a toxic workplace?

[@Peaceonearthrn]

I feel you

[@justbeegreen]

I don’t think any workplace is perfect. Remember you can interview your potential workplace too. And if they are uncomfortable with reasonable questions, then that is valuable information for you there.

[@AntonJGunn]

@@justbeegreen Absolutely! You should always be interviewing your potential employer. However, if you are already working there and things start to change. These are the signs that you should be looking for.

[@kristiblack4789]

After working in surgical field for over 15 yrs, I'm going with ZERO hospitals aren't an extremely toxic work environments! Far too many narcissists working there in one big $ick $ociety!

[@alexchiasson322]

Great advice. Thanks Anton.

[@AntonJGunn]

You are quite welcome!

[@chrish3359]

The military, too!!!

[@iroshanaminiweligama9311]

I can learn more hv 2 watch all ur vlogs.

[@AntonJGunn]

Thank you!

[@xioesq13]

I like this video. It's helpful

[@AntonJGunn]

Thank you! I am glad it's helpful.

[@iroshanaminiweligama9311]

Thank u so much learned many things. Pl reply me. I got pension, they r not giving my pension letter. I got leave 3mnts prior pension leave as i worked to 23yrs government sri lanka .not paid for 3 mnts Salary. Please help me with this

[@AntonJGunn]

Please contact me: antongunn.com/contact/

[@justbeegreen]

I wonder about workplace accommodations - does the private sector do a better job than the public sector? In the past year or so, I’ve been introduced to the term, moral injury.

[@AntonJGunn]

I think it's a mixed bag. It all depends on the employer and whether the employee asks for the accommodation. Moral injury is a real thing and it has been going on for decades. Now we are just starting to see employers provide support to address moral injuries but largely speaking, employers and managers won't even acknowledge it.

[@catherine4385]

​​@AntonJGunn What is moral injury?

[@AntonJGunn]

@@catherine4385 Moral Injury is a term used to describe the deep emotional, psychological, and spiritual distress that occurs when someone violates their own moral or ethical code, or when they witness or are part of actions that go against their values. It’s not a formal mental health diagnosis like PTSD, but it’s a powerful and painful experience that often involves feelings of guilt, shame, anger, or betrayal. Moral injury can occur in high-stress professions like healthcare, the military, law enforcement, or any job where individuals face difficult decisions that challenge their sense of right and wrong. For instance, a healthcare worker who feels forced to provide substandard care due to resource limitations or a soldier who witnesses or participates in actions that conflict with their moral beliefs might suffer from moral injury. It’s different from a simple ethical dilemma or stress because the person feels they have deeply compromised their personal values, either through their own actions or those of others.

[@ronpeltz2]

Sounds like you worked at the Post Office 😮😮😮😮😮😮

[@AntonJGunn]

LOL, no I didn't work at the post office. I worked in the federal government (so it was similar).

[@FlashDance002]

Seems like some places dont have good leaders..they may sound ok on paper or brag up thier wirk on previous job..whether its good or not but they use. Rudeness and abusive language and yelling to get people to listen..people are doing thier best..people dont like being talked to that way..seems like everyone i know gossips and cares more about numbers than the workers, the workers doings the work get the blame for others mistakes and get blamed for thier own small mistakes and flaws..not big ones and the toxic folks get all the rewards..unfair..too many i know work or used to work for people like this..not new either folks my age, younger than i and even family friends that are retired have horror stories from thier days..in fact they are identical to many what people face now

[@allergictomediocre8989]

Show me a workplace thats not....

[@AntonJGunn]

There are lots of workplaces that are NOT toxic. However, good places do have toxic leaders who make things bad for the people on individual teams. But I get your point.

[@whackly]

where i work, almost all of my coworkers don't speak english ( we all have an esoteric skill that is not commonly taught in the US) and i don't speak their varied and beautiful languages. it's chill af for me. there might be drama, but i don't know about it. our boss is super relaxed and focused on the right things. it is a fantastic workplace. but the tradeoff is that the pay is low. so it's possible to find non-toxic workplaces, but you might not get paid top dollat to work there. it's rare, but possible.

[@TheNyakaat]

After 3 weeks, my former employer literally checked every item on this list.

[@cinnamonspice4389]

The HR director, EEOC, executive staff, and the lawyers of the company are jokes. Nothing is confidential at the company, and everyone knows each other's personal information, and the labor relations boards are no help at all.

[@AntonJGunn]

Have you had a bad experience?

[@cinnamonspice4389]

@@AntonJGunn yes, I did.

[@AntonJGunn]

@@cinnamonspice4389 Wow! I am sorry that you experienced that. Did you ever get a positive resolution? Or did you leave the company?

[@cinnamonspice4389]

@AntonJGunn no resolution, and I am still with the company

[@cinnamonspice4389]

@AntonJGunn no positive resolution, and I am still with the company collecting a paycheck

[@iroshanaminiweligama9311]

Mr.Anton how can i contact u ?

[@AntonJGunn]

This is the best way to contact me. These messages come right to me: antongunn.com/contact/

[@Harrybrown4570]

All work places are toxic until you use subterfuge to get it going your way you are the best employee there you have to know that never doubt it full on self confidence all the time. Just never take a salary job you can make more money youll figure that youll need a few close friends and treat them like best friends and don't mistreat your underlings be there defender always

[@KurobaKoon]

Email is not poor communication is the fundamental of communication at work to keep you evidences and alignment, approval - only verbal communication is shitty

[@kadzo6614]

You clearly didn't understand what he explained about the email communication.😢

[@legofrogo3346]

I would like to share my story to those interested (link in YT profile). All 5 signs were there and I was aware of everything, but there was nothing to do other than quit.

[@AntonJGunn]

I am so sorry you have experienced this type of workplace.

[@legofrogo3346]

@@AntonJGunn I appreciate it. Thank you. I feel like I have done myself a favor as things weren't getting better. Maybe go somewhere where they hopefully value hard workers.

[@OK-wb1dy]

…

[@joannevans9629]

Sign #1 being poor communication: Why would you tell someone to leave and support their poor communication. Maybe this toxic work environment is a perfect place to learn to be a good communicator vs running away. I know this because I lived it and even wrote a book about what it took to turn it around. If you've started a new job then you may not be able to leave since your next employer is apt to blame you for not being able to get along with everyone. This comes from experience.

[@AntonJGunn]

It's your choice to stay, but in the last 2 years, 78,000,000 left their jobs for better ones where they didn't have these problems. Also, most employers are so desperate for great talent they don't blame the employee for the toxic culture. They blame the leaders for allowing the toxic culture to persist. But it's up to you to stay. Sounds like you made it work for you. However, after working with 2600 organizations as a speaker and consultant, I have experience to say it's better to go work where you are celebrated than stay where you are tolerated.

[@really5453]

That only works if they don't have power over you.

[@justbeegreen]

@@AntonJGunnamen.