The Power of Ten - 10 traits of poor workplace culture

An exceptionally bad workplace culture can be detrimental to employee morale, engagement, and overall organizational performance. Here are ten points that characterize an exceptionally bad workplace culture:

1. Lack of Communication: Communication is poor, inconsistent, or one-sided. Important information is withheld, decisions are made without employee input, and feedback is not actively sought or valued.

2. Toxic Leadership: Leaders exhibit toxic behaviours such as micromanagement, favouritism, bullying, or lack of accountability. They create a hostile or fear-based work environment that hampers productivity and stifles employee growth.

3. Lack of Trust: There is a pervasive lack of trust among employees and between employees and management. Trust is eroded due to broken promises, lack of transparency, and a blame culture.

4. High Turnover and Low Employee Engagement: Employees are disengaged, unmotivated, and frequently leave the organization. There is a high turnover rate due to dissatisfaction with the work environment, lack of opportunities, or poor management.

5. Lack of Recognition and Appreciation: Employee efforts and achievements go unnoticed or unappreciated. There is a lack of recognition or rewards for a job well done, leading to demotivation and decreased morale.

6. Fear of Speaking Up: Employees are afraid to voice their opinions, concerns, or suggestions due to fear of retaliation or dismissal. This stifles creativity, innovation, and healthy discussions.

7. Unfair Treatment and Favouritism: Favouritism and unfair treatment of employees are prevalent. Some employees receive preferential treatment, while others are overlooked or mistreated, leading to resentment and a sense of injustice.

8. Lack of Work-Life Balance: The organization does not prioritize work-life balance, resulting in excessive workloads, unrealistic expectations, and limited support for personal well-being. Burnout and stress are common among employees.

9. Lack of Development Opportunities: There is limited investment in employee development and growth. Training and career advancement opportunities are scarce, leading to stagnant career paths and a lack of motivation to excel.

10. Lack of Diversity and Inclusion: The workplace lacks diversity, equity, and inclusion. Discrimination, harassment, or exclusion based on factors such as race, gender, or background are prevalent, creating a hostile and unwelcoming environment.

It's important to address and rectify these issues to create a healthier and more productive workplace culture. Organizations should strive to foster open communication, trust, fairness, and employee well-being to create an inclusive and supportive environment that promotes growth and success.

Note about the author: Andrew Hulbert is a multi-award winning entrepreneur, non-exec director, speaker, author, platelet donor and philanthropist. The ‘Power of Ten’ summarises Andrew’s learnings across the last decade and looks to share some of the valuable mistakes, lessons and learnings during that time. For a succinct summary of Andrew’s career you can visit: https://www.iwfmawards.org/previous-winners/winner-outstanding-contribution-to-workplace-and-facilities-management-2022/. If you’d like to start a conversation, please direct message on Linkedin.