Issues with the cultures of big companies, including Uber and Google, have recently been in the news, turning the spotlight onto the subject of toxic workplaces. But few are talking about the causes.
What are the indicators that a company’s culture or workplace could quickly turn toxic?
The roots of a company culture include rules, expectations, and policies. If these are subjective – left open to interpretation – the company invites differing opinions, which causes conflict, which results in toxicity. Subjective work processes and systems are the sources of most toxic company cultures.