Navigating Toxic Workplaces
Not all workplace harm is loud. Some of the most damaging experiences are quiet, deniable, and isolating.
This support is for people dealing with:
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covert bullying or exclusion
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manipulation, gaslighting, or shifting standards
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being targeted without obvious cause
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chronic stress from always being “on guard”
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pressure to stay silent to keep your job or reputation
What Makes A Workplace Toxic?
A toxic workplace isn’t just a job that’s stressful, poorly managed, or going through a rough period. Most organizations have moments of tension, conflict, or misalignment. That alone doesn’t make them toxic though.
A workplace becomes toxic when harm is repeated, normalized, and protected by the system. A workplace can be toxic to an individual, if that individual is one that is targeted, abused and mistreated by the system (even when others feel they may not be).
In these cases, it's usually the isolation that makes you feel like it's "only you"- but I can almost guarantee you that it isn't.
We hear the term "toxic workplace" all over the place, and we've all (if you've clicked on this page) have worked in some environments we'd classify as toxic. But what actually makes a workplace toxic?.
In toxic environments, the issue isn’t just what happens; it’s what continues to happen without repair, accountability, or acknowledgment. Over time, people are expected to adapt to conditions that quietly undermine their wellbeing, judgment, or sense of self.
Not every difficult workplace is toxic, but truly toxic workplaces leave people confused, depleted, and doubting themselves long after your workday ends.
Is Your Workplace Toxic?
A workplace is not automatically toxic because:
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the work is demanding or fast-paced
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there is occasional conflict or disagreement
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feedback feels uncomfortable
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leadership makes imperfect decisions
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change is happening and people are unsettled
Healthy workplaces can still be challenging. The difference is that in healthy environments, problems are named, repaired, and learned from. In toxic ones, problems are ignored, deflected, or blamed on individuals.
Poor Culture
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Harmful behavior is minimized, justified, or reframed as “just how things are”
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Power is used to silence, intimidate, or exclude rather than support
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Rules and standards shift depending on who is involved
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Accountability flows downward, not upward
Leadership Issues
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Leaders avoid naming problems that create discomfort
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They label those who raise concerns as “difficult,” “negative,” or “not a fit”
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Reputation is protected over people
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Performative values exist without lived follow-through
Employee Experience
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People feel they must self-censor to stay safe
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Chronic stress or vigilance is normalized
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Trust erodes quietly rather than through open conflict
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High performers burn out, disengage, or leave while harmful behavior persists
Systemic Issues
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Complaints go nowhere or backfire
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“Resilience” is emphasized over repair
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Targets are coached, moved, or managed out instead of supported
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Patterns repeat despite training, surveys, or initiatives
If You'd Like Guided Support
Workplace Wellness Coaching
A structured 3-or 6-month coaching program designed to help you step out of survival mode and into a healthier, more sustainable rhythm.
Together, we’ll focus on stress management, boundary setting, and practical strategies to navigate overwhelm and toxic work environments without losing yourself.
The program is perfect if you’re:
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Struggling with ongoing stress or burnout that won’t let up
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Tired of poor work-life balance draining your energy
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Ready to stop tolerating unhealthy dynamics at work
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Wanting tools to self-advocate and stand in your worth without fear
By the end, you’ll walk away with a reset foundation for resilience, which helps you to protect your energy, maintain balance, and respond to challenges without being consumed by them.
