By Liam Jones 
For a long time, I thought I’d been lucky—no toxic jobs in my career, or so I believed. Sure, I’d heard about nightmare workplaces and knew to avoid them. But it wasn’t until years later that I started to see what toxic environments actually looked like. And surprise—I’d already worked in a few.
The thing is, I didn’t spot it back then because I assumed the problem was me. I thought maybe I wasn’t thinking strategically enough, didn’t have the “leader” vibe, or just wasn’t ready for the next step up. I didn’t realize it could be the company that was the problem.
Chatting with friends and coworkers made me realize I wasn’t alone. Lots of folks had been in toxic workplaces but didn’t know it right away either.
Luckily, more people are talking about this stuff now. There’s been a real shift toward building workplaces that are healthier and more open, and that means it’s easier to spot red flags early—and do something about them.
Let’s break down what makes a workplace toxic and how you can tell if you’re in one.
So… what is a toxic work environment?
Basically, it’s a place where unhealthy behaviors—like bullying, shouting, manipulation, or exclusion—become “normal.” When that happens, things like stress, distrust, and burnout go through the roof. According to career coach Eli Bohemond, it’s a place where you don’t feel psychologically safe.
You might worry that speaking up will get you punished or ignored. Over time, that kind of environment can seriously mess with your mental health—think anxiety, depression, or burnout.
Some folks end up crying before work because they feel trapped but can’t afford to quit. Others go into full-on people-pleasing mode, pushing themselves too hard just to feel like they belong.
Executive coach Lisa Quinn puts it this way: bad workplaces aren’t usually just about one terrible boss—it’s about the whole system being broken. If the culture itself is toxic, everyone feels it.
How do you know if your workplace is toxic?
It’s not always easy to tell at first. In fact, some people don’t realize it because they assume that all jobs are kind of like this. Others, like I did, think the problem is with them, not the company.
Different people react to toxicity differently, too—it can depend on your past work experiences, your personality, even your background. But there are some common signs you can look out for:
1. There are zero boundaries around work
In toxic cultures, there’s this weird pride around always being “on.” Managers work themselves into the ground and expect you to do the same.
That might mean staying late every day, or getting pinged with emails at 10 p.m. on a Sunday.
Bohemond suggests watching for this even during the hiring process. If a potential boss gives you a task late on a Friday and wants it done by Monday morning? Red flag.
2. No one trusts each other
In these kinds of environments, there’s a lot of spying, second-guessing, and micromanaging.
Maybe the manager watches your every move, or sends constant Slack messages to check what you’re doing.
Communications consultant Whitney Simon shared how being micromanaged made her feel even more like an imposter—especially as one of the only people of color on her team. She eventually realized that when managers don’t trust their team, nobody thrives.
3. Mistakes are not allowed
In some places, if you mess up even once, you’re toast. Quinn calls these “dog-eat-dog” cultures.
Instead of learning from mistakes, people go into survival mode. They hide info, throw coworkers under the bus, and look out only for themselves.
It’s especially brutal for minorities, who already feel pressure to be “perfect.” One mistake can feel like it threatens their entire job, while others get a free pass.
4. People are just plain disrespectful
Contempt shows up in all kinds of subtle (and not-so-subtle) ways. One client of Quinn’s had a boss who’d roll his eyes during meetings and ignore her ideas—until a man said the exact same thing.
He also tore apart her work with nasty personal comments, not just helpful edits. That kind of treatment wears you down fast.
5. The relationships feel… off
Want to do a vibe check on your office? Look at how people interact. Do coworkers laugh and chat over coffee, or just stare at their screens and avoid eye contact?
Do your group chats include memes and friendly banter—or is everything stiff, formal, or cold?
Stonewalling is another big one. One lawyer Quinn coached had a boss who literally ignored her greetings. No hello, no eye contact. Just cold silence. That kind of behavior creates a ton of stress.
6. No support for growth or development
In toxic jobs, you’re often left to figure things out on your own. No mentors, no guidance—just “sink or swim.”
Bohemond says this has gotten even worse with remote work, where it’s easy to feel disconnected from your team.
Simon adds that folks from marginalized backgrounds often get zero support for career growth. They don’t have mentors advocating for them, so they end up stuck—while others move ahead.
7. You feel gaslighted all the time
Ever had a boss who gives you clear instructions… and then acts like they never said any of that?
I’ve been there. We’d do a project exactly how we were told, and then the manager would ask, “Why’d you do it this way?” It made us question our abilities, and we started dreading every assignment.
Gaslighting like this is bad for anyone, but it hits especially hard when people from marginalized groups speak up—and get told they’re being “too sensitive” or “misinterpreting things.” It makes them question their own reality.
8. Your body’s screaming at you
Toxic stress doesn’t just live in your head—it shows up physically, too.
Maybe you’re constantly tense, can’t sleep, or feel sick to your stomach. That’s your body in fight-or-flight mode, trying to deal with constant stress.
Over time, this can lead to serious health issues, from panic attacks to chronic fatigue.
- Everyone’s checked out and quitting fast
In a toxic environment, people stop caring. They stay quiet in meetings, keep their cameras off, and give one-word answers. They’ve mentally clocked out.
Eventually, they actually leave—and the turnover rate starts to skyrocket. Bohemond says if you see people leaving left and right, especially in one department, there’s probably something toxic going on behind the scenes.