How To Know If It’s Time To Move On From Your Job

If you’re an adult, you will have to experience working to be able to support yourself financially. Unfortunately, not everyone has the luxury of having multiple job offers to compare and choose from, so ending up in a toxic work environment is pretty usual. (image source)

In the long run, being unhappy and dissatisfied in a job can only be damaging to your well-being. It’s important to know when you’re in a toxic workplace so you can start considering other options before it’s too late.

If you notice most of these signs, then it’s probably time to get packing:

There is constant office drama.

You might have seen cliques or some coworkers always whispering in each other’s ears. Rumors, misunderstanding, favoritism, or even fighting seem to be normal in your workplace.

Everyone around you appears to be miserable.

You feel no enthusiasm and only see frowning faces. You haven’t heard a single “I love working here.” A high turnover rate among employees is likely due to unhappiness and low morale.

Communication is poor.

You get little to no feedback about your performance in the office unless they’re about your mistakes and it’s said in a negative and harsh way instead of a constructive one. You also don’t get credit when you help with someone else’s work. Lastly, you see no changes even after discussing with management or HR the lack of recognition and growth opportunities.

The system is dysfunctional.

Confusion, arbitrary deadlines, and lack of focus are apparent. You also hear that “this is the way it’s always been done” more than you should. New policies are constantly getting added and management is never around to help solve workplace issues.

They say you’re “lucky you have a job.”

This is actually a scare tactic that threatens you into staying in a marginalized position. Especially when you hear it from your boss or HR, it’s likely that the organization thrives on bullying behavior and unjustified control.

Your gut says something’s wrong.

It’s always best to trust your instincts because chances are you might be right. Look for any physical symptoms you might be experiencing in the office such as feeling constantly vigilant, sweaty palms, or a racing heartbeat. You might also notice unhappiness even when you get home. Sleepless nights, anxiety, and feeling of dread before going to work are also common.