Toxic work environment: How to detect it in time?

The pandemic caused an accelerated transformation in the workplace, from the way of working, the profiles that companies demand the most, to the selection processes. Once the isolation is over and with the return to face-to-face, how can we be able to detect a toxic environment at work in time?

“When you apply to a company, you have great expectations, since many hours are invested to look for new job opportunities. However, dreams could be cut short if the environment turns out to be toxic”, mentions Giancarlo Ameghino, manager of Management and Human Development of the Crosland Group.

“This has a huge impact on professional life. In fact, roughlyone in five collaborators has left his job in the last five years for this reason,” he adds.

warning signs

In a context where companies talk about the importance of a good working environment, in practice, are they complying with offering a positive culture and healthy environment for employees?

The Crosland Group executive lists four signs to look out for during a job interview:

High staff turnover. Social networks like LinkedIn can provide an overview of the culture within a given organization and its turnover rate. “During the job interview, it is ideal for the candidate to ask why the position is open. This will let you know if someone was promoted. If so, it is a sign that there are opportunities for professional growth.

Indifferent behavior between collaborators. It is important to observe the body language of company members during the interview. “We must see if the treatment between them is respectful, if they greet each other cordially and if they look into each other’s eyes to talk. If the interview is by video call, you should observe how comfortable the recruiter feels when asked about teamwork within the company.

Excess individualism. In some selection processes, the applicant has the opportunity to talk with the managers. This is a good opportunity to find out how they talk about their team. “A good leader will achieve goals together. If he talks only about himself, he will indicate to us that he is a self-centered boss and perhaps very vertical thinking.

Overload of functions in the position. Some companies offer great benefits (food, games and nap rooms, etc.) to cover excessively long work hours and overload of responsibilities. “It is ideal for applicants to consult about the productivity that is needed, flexible hours and methodologies with which the staff is evaluated,” says Ameghino.

Currently, workers feel that it is key to be able to develop in a work environment where there are appropriate conditions to safeguard their physical, mental and financial well-being.

54% of those consulted by the unicorn Betterfly, about the state of labor well-being of employees throughout the region in 2022, reveal that, out of a sample of 4,000 workers distributed in eight countries, burnout is wreaking havoc on your life.

In detail, for generation Z and millennials it is higher (70%). In addition, they feel overloaded with work (50.2%) and face an endless number of situations linked to lack of recognition, which generates demotivation and the desire to resign (39%).

“It is increasingly difficult to achieve a balance between work and personal life because there are many factors around that are generating a negative impact, in addition to the effects of the pandemic itself. If we do a quick review of what is happening we have: global economic recession, less competitive wages, poor work environment, high levels of stress and little financial protection”, commented Alejandro Freund, country manager of Betterfly in Peru and Ecuador.

“The call is to connect and empathize with the team because now it is up to leaders to build a wellness strategy that addresses the widespread exhaustion that the workforce is experiencing today. Organizations have an opportunity, right now, to fix these types of things by ensuring that wellness offerings are included as part of their strategy,” he added.

recruiting trends

On the business side, how to find the best candidate? In an increasingly digitized and constantly changing world, if companies want to remain relevant to the market, both organizations and collaborators need update and acquire new skills to innovate and continue to grow.

Under this premise, Lifelong Learning or continuous training, a trend in which the success of the company depends on the skills and ability to adapt to change of its workforce. In this acquisition of new competencies, the reskilling, those that make it easier for talent to move from one position to another or from one function to another. While the upskilling seeks that employees develop the necessary skills to improve the performance of their current role.

According to the study “Recruitment Thermometer” by the recruitment software SherlockHR and the CompuTrabajo employment exchange, 90% of employers in the Peruvian market expressed that experience is what they value most about the candidate72% find that attitude is the most important thing because it shows willingness to face new challenges and for 53% technical knowledge is the most relevant.

“We have to see the candidate from a perspective, “candidate centric”. We must know their tastes, interest, what social platforms they usually use and at what time, to establish new effective communication channels that facilitate a real connection between candidate – organization. It’s time to evaluate new work modelsflexible work policies in terms of hours and clothing or incentives that provide well-being and personal balance in the lives of employees in order to recruit and retain the best talent”, says Ivonne López, Brand & Candidate Experience at SherlockHR.

interests

Employees attach increasing importance to their companies giving priority to flexibility and the possibility of choice within your benefit program. According to data from the Global Benefits Attitudes Survey 2022, prepared by WTW, among the top priorities of employees to improve their benefits, flexibility ranks high, along with supporting well-being or improving listening strategies. .

Although the trend had already been clear in recent years, the pandemic has meant a significant change in employee priorities. Now, flexible working has come to be considered as one of the most outstanding benefits that an employee can have access to.

People today are looking spaces in which they can develop professionally and in turn manage to generate a balance between work, personal and family.

“For companies to have leadership and want to position themselves productively, they must have a different vision and be able to develop strategies that ensure the integral well-being of its workers: on a physical, mental, financial and social level, generating a positive impact on them and, consequently, on the results of the organization”, comments Guillermo Castillo, Head of Health & Benefits of WTW Peru.