Toxic Workplace? Try 'Susegad'

Do you know...

>> A toxic workplace culture is the number # 1 reason people leave their jobs!

>>>> A toxic workplace is 10.4 times more likely to contribute to an employee quitting. 

(Ref: MIT Sloan Management Review, 2022)        

A mobile phone in silence mode and no internet for a week is a luxury. Walking through sunny shores, white soft sand beaches, and quiet roads lined with coconut and almost 100-year-old heirloom mango trees, gives a feeling of being free, and at home. In the Goan Konkani language, one would say,

"Maka suseg di" i.e. give me peace.

The term 'susegad' is derived from the Portuguese word Sossegado. Over time, Goa, a tropical humid climate has embraced susegad life as a way of living. During the peak summer month of May, slumber (siesta) is the best way to cope with the heat. For local Goans, susegad is a one-fit answer to all the world's modern stresses, including a toxic workplace. For many, a job is no longer 9 to 5 and receiving a paycheck, but rather a place where they seek satisfaction from their professional contribution to society.

Career contentment is a choice?

Just because you had decades of an international career working with a diverse range of institutions and multicultural colleagues without experiencing workplace (ethnic) discrimination does not guarantee it will never happen.

One of my mentor's advice, I quote below is:

If the workplace has turned toxic, staying put is not a good idea, regardless of the reasons.?[...] Life is too short otherwise!

A few try staying put and demanding justice to bring a change, promoting equity. In our fragmented world, justice is the last thing to expect. Others may have no choice but to fit in an unconducive work environment. Many choose to sacrifice their career aspiration for financial stability. Only those who are privileged can decide to quit the toxic workplace and move on.

Individuals who are happy with their careers are linked to both higher productivity and higher performance.

Quitting a toxic workplace for calmness is a feasible option only for those who are privileged. Economic independence to run a household or to pay house or car mortgage, children's education, immigration status, or caring for elders are prime factors for many being 'stuck' in a toxic workplace. For a woman of color, ethnic minority, and a developing country citizen, the choice to move on becomes slimmer in many sectors. The question is: can career contentment be a choice?

Yes, career contentment is a choice, but with a price.

A toxic work environment could be a result of poor leadership, trust issues with people of colour, difficulty collaborating with mature intelligent women (calling them 'wicked'), jealous colleagues, a culture of gossiping and micromanaging, and ethnic discrimination.

Career contentment is intertwined with intrinsic values and extrinsic values. Feeling respected or accomplishing implementing innovative ideas are intrinsic values while a high salary with perks like house rent, car or unlimited paid vacation days are valuable extrinsic values. Lifestyle values are equally important choices that determine job satisfaction such as where one lives whether in a metropolitan city or a tropical climate or maybe close to family for child or elder care.

Increasingly, privileged employees, who have rich work experience, are hardworking, and have excellent social and communication skills are less tolerant of hostile treatment, bullying, unfair treatment, and office drama.

Demanding Justice

There is no place for justice if the institutions promote toxic workplace culture - directly or indirectly. Take Chow, who relocated to North America from SE Asia, and within the first two months, she faced racism at the office. It was difficult for her to fathom that what she was experiencing was indeed a form of racism - everything she said was twisted and used against her by her boss.

Chow soon realized it was not about her. The employer wanted to hire the person they liked. To lay the ground for new recruitment, they made it difficult for a newcomer Chow to settle by playing politics and manipulating office colleagues.

99% of the world's employees who face unfair treatment, verbal harassment, and gender and ethnic discrimination - quit and move on to find a better workplace.

Chow had made a big move - packing her home, moving into a different continent where she knew no one, had no family or friends, and therefore could not garner support or express her ordeal. She remained quiet despite being socially isolated. No one came to 'talk to' Chow to ask her side of the story.

Chow avoided being categorized as playing a 'victim'. She dedicated her energy to making the best use of her vast rich unique experience to build something valuable for her institution. She faced criticism for having a different perspective. Strange it may sound, but it was her 'different critical thinking perspective' that her employer had recruited her. With the hope that her institution would support her, Chow tried to get justice, but her hopes were crushed. Chow decided to move on ...

A brave decision to say goodbye to a toxic workplace

I read that the best decision is to say goodbye to a toxic workplace. Those who make such big brave decisions are strong people. They know how not to carry hyper-vigilance and reactivity into their next role. These strong people have the maturity to understand that one must 'trust everyone'. Doing so, will enhance their work performance and enjoyment wherever they are and for whomever they are working for.

Moving on... means gaining back the confidence and leaving the baggage of a negative environment behind for the better.

Susegad' way to move on!

The 'susegad' way of living has been misunderstood as being lazy having a laid-back attitude towards life, or not having aspirations. On the contrary, susegad is everything that one tries to achieve in our lifetime - that is to live peacefully, and make the most of one life! Of course, unless you are a cat that has nine lives!!

'Giving up' on a job means accepting you will not do anything, and you stop trying. 'Giving in' means you have decided to let someone or something else dominate and control the situation. Susegad does not promote either or anything. Rather, the susegad way of life is to create habits and routines that lend happiness and calm.

Moving on means acting smartly, one will never have full control over and can never spot a toxic workplace in advance, but there are red flags to avoid future toxic workplaces and cultures, e.g.

1. Lacks diversity, inclusion, and equity. It is one thing to say we are diverse - but if diversity is defined as belonging to the same identity, and ethnicity then that is a big red flag!!
2. No experience in collaborating with people from multicultural backgrounds on an equal playing level field.
3. Do not trust when the recruiters promise we need 'critical thinkers' and want to do things differently. They might just be saying we want to 'tick the box' of having someone qualified and skilled worker in our institution to show we are 'forward thinkers'. In reality, they continue the business as usual.
4. Numbers do not tell the facts. Yes, even if the institute has 50% of women on board, but they fear raising their voices, then it is one big red flag.

The list can go on... but, to gain a susegad moment do remember what I quoted of my mentor... Live is too short. My mother would say, "Everything happens, happens for good." That's another way to achieve contentment in your career by reminding yourself it's better to move on because a toxic workplace was not meant for you.

Life is a big canvas and a susegad way of dealing with career contentment is a contended form of 'joie de vivre' (joy of living) existent.         

What is your approach to a toxic workplace?

This article is based on my, Purabi Bose's, personal opinion and based on various observations, reading news and studies about toxic workplaces. There are no silver bullets related to toxic workplaces on how to prevent, deal with, and ways to move on. Among the crowd, find those few kind-hearted people who will fight for you, who genuinely want to help your career. They are an important source of energy of your motivation - they will text you, share new opportunities, and remind you to smile in the shitty stress. The power of susegad is these humans who play a powerful role behind the scenes by bringing out the best in you!!