In the excitement of starting a new job, we sometimes miss the red flags of a nightmare workplace. Watch out for these signs that your new job might be toxic.
No Training
The first few weeks of any new job should have some sort of on-the-job training. Only a mismanaged workplace would hire someone and expect them to figure everything out independently.
Employees Side Hustle
If all your colleagues need side gigs, you’re probably not getting paid enough to survive. That may be okay if you’re just starting in your career, but you’ll probably need to look elsewhere to advance.
Walking on Eggshells
Watch how your new coworkers interact with the manager. You probably have a bad boss if they all seem like nervous wrecks.
Immediate Evals
Only a lousy boss would expect you to perform at 100% a week after you started. If they’re belittling your performance immediately, it will never end.
No Onboarding
When you start a new job, you typically have to sign some employment paperwork on the first day. It’s a bad sign if no one shows up to do the onboarding.
Unclear Expectations
A supervisor should lay out their expectations for an employee. A bad one constantly contradicts themselves, leaving the new hire unsure of their performance goals. A worse one leaves new employees guessing about what’s expected.
Vague Answers
Managers love to dangle the prospect of an award or raise in their employee’s faces. If they promise a raise, ensure they have clear and static measurements for when the raise will come. A vague response probably means they talk big with no intention to follow through.
Lack of a Handbook
The best companies create a standard employee handbook showcasing rules, expectations, and employee rights and responsibilities. Although many small businesses don’t have these, it’s a massive red flag if a giant company lacks a handbook.
Uncivil Coworkers
Most places have one or two employees that don’t fit in. But when all the coworkers seem to hate each other, it’s a sign of a bigger problem. Management may encourage distrust by pitting people against each other.
High Turnover
If you find yourself at mid-level seniority after just a few weeks because everyone above you already jumped ship, you’re probably in a toxic work environment.
Starting Immediately
Most jobs take a minute to decide who to hire. A company that wants you to start now might have some problems.
“We’re Family”
Many businesses that claim the workers are all family don’t mean like the Brady Bunch. They mean the toxic family with narcissistic parents who demand perfection from their children, while behaving horribly in return.
Micromanaging
A company that wants to install tracking software on your computer cares more about appearances than the actual work.
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