Toxic employees can exist at all levels within a company, whether they hold high-ranking executive positions or are entry-level newcomers. The detrimental effect they have on morale and productivity is significant, causing solid employees to refuse to tolerate such behavior. The toxic employee’s presence leads to contempt for management, as their noxious conduct is allowed to persist.
Outlined below are ten common traits exhibited by toxic employees:
Angry Bird: This individual is particularly toxic, frequently resorting to yelling at co-workers or customers. Their aggression drives away valuable employees and customers alike.
Excuse Maker: The excuse maker never outgrew the “not me” stage of childhood. They continually find excuses to avoid taking responsibility for their actions or lack thereof.
Gossiper: The gossiper spreads rumors and negatively spins conversations, creating divisions between co-workers and management.
Lone Wolf: While high-performing, the lone wolf becomes problematic in team efforts or when confronted with change. Their self-sufficiency leads them to believe they don’t need to collaborate with others or seek assistance.
Lazy Bones: This employee lacks initiative, doing the bare minimum to stay under the radar while burdening their team members with additional workload.
Complainer: Regardless of the situation, the complainer finds reasons to be negative, casting a dark cloud over everyone’s morale.
Doesn’t Help Others: They possess valuable knowledge but are reluctant to assist colleagues unless compelled to do so. They use their knowledge solely for personal gain.
Know-it-all: The know-it-all’s unwillingness to learn hinders their personal growth, as they believe they already possess all the necessary knowledge.
No Motivation: This employee shows no interest in investing in their career growth, lacking the drive to expand their knowledge or skills. While their peers pursue certifications and industry education, the non-motivated individual prefers to remain stagnant.
Devil-may-care: With a careless and rule-breaking attitude, this wild card disregards deadlines and responsibilities, adopting an “oh well” mentality.
Strengthening the hiring process is the best preventive measure against toxic employees, but it is impossible to catch every toxic personality during the pre-hire stage. Implementing an employee handbook with clear policies on handling poor behavior is essential to protect your business. Here are ten approaches to address the poisonous influences brought on by certain employees:
Introduce improvement plans.
Conduct frequent, unscheduled check-ins to keep employees vigilant.
Identify underlying resentments that contribute to poor behavior.
Provide clear expectations to minimize misunderstandings when addressing poor behavior.
Recognize and reward efforts appropriately.
Foster a collaborative, non-competitive work environment.
Implement stress management measures.
Promote teamwork over individual efforts through incentives.
Take employee complaints seriously and address them promptly.
Document negative behaviors carefully for future reference.
By actively addressing toxic behavior and cultivating a positive work environment, businesses can mitigate the impact toxic employees have on morale and productivity.