5 Indicators That a Company Isn’t the Best Place to Work

There is nothing more frightening than the unknown. A toxic workplace environment can be as dangerous as inhaling a toxic chemical. It’s even more dangerous for those of us who aren’t aware of what we’re getting ourselves into. I’ve been on both sides of the debate. I didn’t realize the underlying philosophy until I became a small business owner and employer; how you treat your employees ultimately determines how you treat your clients/customers. Both are detrimental to the company’s goal. Here are five indicators that a company isn’t the best solid place to work, how to avoid wasting your time, and what to do about it.

High Turnover Rate – Employee retention is critical. From the first day of employment, it is the company’s responsibility to ensure that employees are happy, engaged in their work, and committed to the company’s goals. The goal is to keep people from feeling as if they should be somewhere else. If the turnover rate is high, it is most likely because managers are either struggling to monitor workplace morale or aren’t implementing good turnover management strategies, which are typically attributed to poor work-life balance and employee development. Inquire about retention accountability if you are applying to a company with a high turnover rate.

Poor Interview Process – Job interviews are supposed to be a two-way conversation, not a question-and-answer session. It should never be an unpleasant experience. If the hiring manager gives short answers with little detail about why the position is open, how long it will be open, and what their expectations are, it’s a sign that they aren’t expecting much from this position. Also, if the hiring manager makes it appear as if this is an opportunity you should not pass up rather than explaining why they believe someone with your experience would be a good fit for their company, run! This indicates that they are unconcerned about your background and experience and are only interested in meeting a hiring quota. If the interview process falls into one of these categories, it’s best to avoid the company entirely. It alludes to an unbalanced corporate structure.

Unprofessionalism in the workplace extends beyond stealing stamps and yellow highlighters from the supply cabinets. Fraternizing is the starting point for unprofessional behavior. Before you know it, your boss and coworkers are emotionally leaning on one another. When your workplace relationship extends beyond the normal scope of employee interactions, it can cause conflict and create a stressful and crippling work environment. Glamour, favoritism, nepotism, laziness, unresolved conflict, and office politics are all factors that contribute to an unprofessional work environment. Even if some of the in-office banter is lighthearted, it can create a negative dynamic that can only be contained for so long before bursting like a bubble. In a nutshell, if morale is somewhere between TMZ and VH1, and management and staff are behaving like reality TV show cast members, it’s time to re-evaluate.

Pessimism – Some people despise their jobs. Worse, they frequently project their hatred onto other employees, which spreads negative energy. I always advise people to avoid people who speak from a defeatist mindset. It’s a dangerous mindset. Pessimism not only creates a negative work environment, but it also has an impact on productivity. If management rarely intervenes to counteract these attitudes by resolving disagreements before they escalate, it is most likely because they are part of the problem. Managers are expected to be good leaders as well as task supervisors. It is their responsibility to keep employees focused and engaged at all times. Allowing pessimistic attitudes to rule the workplace can cost a company clients and profits.

Ineffective communication is the silent cancer that suffocates businesses and stunts their growth. Inadequate training results in management and employees passing on incorrect information both internally and externally. Relying solely on email and chat, as well as office politics, can result in misunderstandings. It erects obstacles. Barriers are what cause the objective to become distorted, resulting in confusion and conflict, which leads to low employee morale. Low company morale kills productivity and leads to disengaged employees.

One of the most important drivers of a company’s individual and collective success is its culture. When you don’t empower your employees, you don’t get good results and thus create a broken environment. Be sure to pay attention to the signs and facts mentioned; this will help to steer you in the right direction—away from companies you won’t be happy working for in a position that doesn’t fully utilize your skills and ambition. You can also learn about a company’s culture by visiting websites such as Glassdoor.com. Employees breaking their necks trying to leave a company to work somewhere else is a sure sign that the company isn’t the best place to work. Proceed with caution if you decide it’s still worth it.