The modern workplace is becoming increasingly toxic, pushing employees to search for new jobs, reveals a new study.
According to a recent survey conducted by Express Employment Professionals and Harris Poll, 30% of job seekers report a rise in confrontational behaviour at work, a troubling statistic that signals a growing crisis in company culture.
Toxic work environments are more than just unpleasant; they’re driving talented employees out the door. The survey found that confrontational behaviour has surged over the past three years, with male job seekers (34%) more likely than female job seekers (23%) to notice the increase. Additionally, 22% of job seekers have witnessed an uptick in mean-spirited interactions, further eroding workplace morale.
WORKPLACE MORALE UNDER THREAT
The following personal stories from employees highlight the severity of the issue:
- “I remember when some workers got physical with each other because one of them made offensive and disrespectful comments about the other’s personal life. It created a hostile environment and affected everyone on the team,” said a 36-year-old male job seeker.
- “I had a coworker who consistently tried to make me do tasks that weren’t in my job description and actively tried to sabotage my work. I reported her multiple times to management, but nothing was done about it until I had to quit,” shared a 30-year-old female job seeker.
- “I experienced bullying by senior nurses toward younger nurses. When I started to display mental health issues, they targeted me even more,” said a 59-year-old female job seeker.
COMPLEX WORKPLACE DYNAMICS
The data also highlights a critical gap between traditional company culture and evolving employee expectations. More than half of job seekers (54%) believe that workplace culture should evolve with societal changes rather than forcing employees to adapt. Women are especially vocal about this need, with 59% agreeing, compared to 49% of men.
Additionally, nearly three in five job seekers (57%) struggle to distinguish between a truly hostile work environment and a simple personality clash between coworkers, revealing the complexities of managing workplace dynamics in a modern office setting.
SPIKE IN TOXIC WORKPLACE BEHAVIOURS
Hiring managers are also seeing an alarming shift. Half of all U.S. hiring managers report a spike in toxic behaviours compared to three years ago. In fact, 74% of hiring managers say they regularly witness toxic workplace traits, with gossiping (39%), unprofessional communication (27%), and employees avoiding collaboration (24%) ranking as the most common issues.
Some first-hand accounts from hiring managers highlight just how deeply these behaviours are impacting teams. For example:
- “An employee constantly gossiped about colleagues, spreading negativity and undermining team morale,” shared a 44-year-old male hiring manager.
- “During a team meeting, one employee repeatedly interrupted others, dismissing their input entirely without offering constructive alternatives,” said a 36-year-old female hiring manager.
- “An employee was sending inappropriate texts and threats,” shared a 26-year-old male hiring manager.
HOW TO ADDRESS WORKPLACE CONFLICTS
While 84% of employed job seekers say their company implements measures to address workplace conflict, it’s clear that more must be done. Proactive strategies include:
- Providing conflict resolution resources (53%)
- Encouraging open communication with supervisors (52%)
- Mandatory training on workplace behaviour (36%)
- Displaying workplace behaviour signage (27%)
Interestingly, 62% of job seekers believe companies should post signage reminding employees to be kind, with Gen Z and millennials showing the strongest support for such initiatives.
COST OF INACTION
“A toxic environment not only drives employees away but also tarnishes a company’s reputation, making it harder to recruit skilled professionals,” stated Bill Stoller, CEO of Express Employment International. “By fostering a positive and respectful workplace culture, companies can enhance their appeal to top talent.”
With the job market still favouring workers in many industries, businesses that fail to tackle toxic behaviours risk losing their best employees to competitors with healthier workplace environments. The message is clear: companies that don’t address toxicity will lose talent – fast.
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