Click here for a full transcript of the episode.

We continue to hear more and more from employees who have left toxic work environments or are thinking about leaving them. If people are in a toxic environment, very often they don’t feel like they belong. To look for subtle signs of a toxic workplace, do a scan of the area. Do people have personal items on their desks? Do they wear company swag outside of the office, even after they leave your organization? Do people disappear after meetings? Is there a lack of boundaries where people are constantly getting emails overnight or on weekends?

Being in a toxic workplace can make you start to doubt yourself and your skills. If that’s happening to you, consider whether you need to create an exit strategy for your own self-preservation. And watch your self-talk; when you start to ask yourself what’s wrong with you, catch that thought, cancel it, and change it. Look for people who can be your safe space to talk about your experiences, whether they’re in your organization, part of your EAP, or at an organization that works to end workplace abuse and bullying.

If you’re a leader looking to foster a culture of belonging, lead by example and model behaviors of empathy and vulnerability. Be a great listener, both to what people are saying and what they’re not saying. Don’t GLOP (General Labeling Of People) or other people. Educate yourself on how to create a more inclusive environment and look for opportunities to bring more perspectives to the table. Be the welcomer when you can tell someone is not comfortable or doesn’t feel like they belong.

In this episode’s listener question, we’re asked why companies are cutting back on DEI efforts when the benefits have been proven over and over. In the news, Australia recently enacted a Right to Disconnect law.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Purple Ink
• Susan Tinder White Consulting
• Episode 160, ”Toxic Workplaces”
• Equitable HR Consulting
• ”Officials probe death of Wells Fargo employee found in her cubicle 4 days after last scanning into work”
• Email MeChelle
• MeChelle on LinkedIn
• ”Will the Anti-Woke Movement Suppress Corporate DE&I?”
• ”Australia is the latest country to give workers the ‘right to disconnect’ after hours”
• JoyPowered® Memberships
• JoyPowered® on LinkedIn
• JoyPowered® on Instagram
• Email JoyPowered®

Let us know what you think! Rate and review our podcast on Apple Podcasts – we love hearing your feedback, and it helps people find our show.