What is a toxic workplace? And how can you escape one?
We’ve all worked in a toxic environment, or worked for toxic people and felt the impact of being in that situation. You might have, like me, stayed longer than you wanted to because it was for your CV or you needed to (money, right?).
As the Devil Wears Prada 2 hits cinemas in May 2026, with a classic toxic workplace scenario, let’s explore the definition of a toxic workplace, a toxic boss or manager, and whether you should quit a toxic job or find resolution in-house.
What is a toxic workplace?
A toxic workplace is somewhere that deeply affects your mental and physical health, somewhere that makes you feel, essentially, like you are being poisoned in some way. It can be an energy, something about the culture, the management or just one person who is the one who drips that toxicity into the working environment. I’ve worked in companies where the toxicity comes from above - from leaders who are stuck in their ways or in positions of power without the right training.
It’s strange when that’s the case because those ‘below’ in the hierarchy might be lovely, and a great team to work with but I find it creates a divide. There’s the ‘us vs them’ fight that kicks in. You spend your lunch breaks and after work drinks or zoom meetings or team chats basically saying negative things about the people who manage you.
It’s like it gets into your bones and you can’t shake it off. Toxicity is an interesting word. Toxic conjures up the idea of something gross. Something that might burn or be caustic. A hazard, a danger, something that might injure or kill even instantly, or slowly and painfully. Well I’ve worked in places that have felt like I was going through a slow painful process that’s for sure!
Often we stay in toxic workplaces becausewe have to. Money is of course a huge driver in staying somewhere you don’t want to work. It is unlikely, if you’re reading this and want to quit a toxic workplace, that you could do so without any worry of how you’d pay the bills or carry on with life without the money you’re earning. There’s also the lure of a job being a good step and sticking it out somewhere toxic for the good of your CV.
Is it about a toxic workplace or a toxic boss?
Often it’s about the person who is managing you that brings the toxicity to a role. It’s important to define this, as it might not be the company or your role that’s the issue, but the person or people you are working with. Note in the times that you feel uncomfortable where that energy is coming from. Is it about someone’s behaviour? Or is it feelings about your role and the tasks you’re being asked to do?
It might be that you don’t have a ‘toxic job’ or even a ‘toxic workplace’ but are actually working with or for someone who is bringing that negativity into a place that otherwise is enjoyable for you. Often people are promoted to manager with no training.
Is it possible for a person to be toxic? I think we all feel we’ve worked with toxic people - the ones who are looking out for themselves to the detriment of the team. The ones who aren’t team players. Is that what a toxic person is? Options might be to speak to HR, to discuss the issues, or if you feel able to, raise what’s going on in a one on one. Can you look for sideways moves - for example, a secondment?
How to quit a toxic workplace
Quitting or going elsewhere might look ‘bad’ on your record, right? Quitting a toxic workplace is a process. It’s one you have to navigate while doing your day job. It’s about (sorry, I know I always say this but I believe it) your goals as well. Does the job really feed into your long term plan? Is it really the right step in your journey?
Leaving a job that’s toxic is about stealth. Making sure you’re doing all the right things to get out of there. Being aware of jobs you can apply for, making sure you’re active on LinkedIn and your CV is up to date so you can pounce on those jobs as and when.Quitting a toxic workplace can take a while but when you have a plan you take back control from a situation that is suffocating you.
Make that plan today if you’re stuck somewhere toxic. What can you begin to do to get out? What needs to happen that you can control to get away from the place? What is the next step, ideally for you? How do you begin to get there?
How to spot a toxic workplace at interview stage
For many of us - and I’ve experienced this, too - we only find out about a toxic workplace once we are working there. The interview went well, the onboarding was fun… even those first days in the office or on Teams seemed to be going well. Then, the toxicity starts to drip in, slowly but surely. People might mention things about the manager, boss or culture that raise red flags. So ideally you want to spot a toxic workplace before you agree to work there!
Watch out for the wording on the job ad. Too much gushing about looking for ‘rock stars’ and ‘gurus’ - and red flags such as mentioning ‘work hard play hard’. If you feel the ick, explore their values and content on their website. Check out Glassdoor reviews, too.
Notice the language they use in the interview. Keep your ears peeled for people saying things like ‘We are a family’ (ick), or ‘We expect people to go above and beyond’. This can often be code for: ‘We expect our staff to work unpaid at weekends.’How long other people have been there.
Look at their LinkedIn profiles and see how long they’ve worked at the company. Is it retaining staff? Or are they moving on after a short amount of time? Over-compensating with the fun stuff? If they keep saying how fun it is to work there, you should quite rightly begin to wonder if it’s actually that fun.
Remember, too, that your probation period is for you as well as them. If things aren’t working out how you expected, you can choose to walk away.
How can I manage the day-to-day of a toxic workplace?
And so we come to managing the day to day of a toxic workplace, trying to make things less toxic. Looking for an antidote or an anti-venom to the poison you’re being administered. While you plan your escape you need to cope in the moment. For me, this has included crying at my desk, but also making sure I took regular breaks, putting the Teams Pings on mute, and also conveying feelings to a manager.
Having constructive conversations with a team member about a toxic situation to diffuse my own feelings. Avoiding the outside of work discussions that fuel the toxic fire.Most of all it’s about being true to you. The toxicity will still happen, but it’s how you react that can make the difference to your day-to-day.
Can a coach help with escaping a toxic workplace?
Yes! Most definitely! Are you trying to escape a toxic workplace? Coaching helps you make your next steps by giving a hand-holding accountability partner. A coach can help you work through the feelings of working for a toxic boss, so you can make decisions about your next steps and whether you want to quit your job or find a new role.
To find out about coaching with me, the Career Happiness Coach, explore this site where you can find out all about me and my coaching packages, including a specific job hunter package, CV and LinkedIn audits and coaching sessions, and Power Hours.
