Do you wake up dreading work, knowing your efforts will go unnoticed while dysfunction thrives? Do those in charge prioritise nepotism and backroom deals over skill and dedication? You’re not alone.
Toxic workplaces are on the rise, often dismissed as “just the way things are.” In these environments, unqualified family members and friends are fast-tracked to leadership roles while hardworking employees are overlooked. The rules aren’t the same for everyone—some are held to impossible standards, while others are excused for incompetence. Gossip runs rampant, leadership ignores concerns, and apathy replaces ambition. Inappropriate jokes and casual discrimination create a hostile atmosphere, with sexism, racism, and bullying shrugged off as “banter.”
Those who dare to speak up are labelled troublemakers, while those who stay silent force themselves to laugh along just to fit in.
According to Beyond Blue, nearly half of Australian employees have left a job due to a toxic work environment. This issue isn’t confined to one industry—it spreads across corporate offices, retail, hospitality, and beyond. And it’s not just employees who suffer. Productivity plummets, morale is crushed, and businesses lose their best talent, damaging their reputation in the process.
A toxic workplace isn’t just about the things you see—it’s about the things you don’t. The real damage often goes unnoticed until it’s too late. I know this firsthand. When I relocated to Armidale last year, I was eager to work for a respected national brand, expecting professionalism, collaboration, and a culture of innovation and respect. Instead, I found instability, miscommunication, and leadership that prioritised self-preservation over progress.
From day one, it was clear that success wasn’t on the agenda. Essential resources to do my job were unavailable, setting me up to fail before I even had a chance to begin. Constructive feedback was rare, but office gossip thrived. Employees were criticised for not understanding processes they had never been trained on, while others were allowed to underperform without consequence. Upper management dodged accountability, refusing to address toxic behaviour.
The impact of a toxic workplace doesn’t end when you clock out. It lingers. Anxiety tightens its grip, sleep becomes restless, and confidence erodes. Conversations revolve around the chaos, the injustice, the sheer disbelief—it becomes an obsession. And then comes the dread of the next job.
Over three months in that role, I met countless people with similar stories—people who had endured, who had fought for better, who had been failed by leadership.
So, what can be done? Awareness is the first step. Employees must recognise when a workplace is damaging their well-being, and employers must take action to foster respect and accountability. True change starts at the top—leaders must be willing to listen, reflect, and make meaningful changes.
The good news? Not every workplace is toxic. Some businesses in New England are leading by example, prioritising employee well-being, fostering transparency, and encouraging growth. These are the workplaces where respect is key, and people are empowered to thrive.
Have you worked in a toxic environment? Have you experienced a positive workplace culture worth celebrating? Change starts with conversation. It’s time to speak up.
Got something on your mind? Go on then, engage. Submit your opinion piece, letter to the editor, or Quick Word now.