College Connection | Fall 2024
What is the health of your workplace culture ?
College Connection | Fall 2024
PART ONE : TOXIC WORKPLACE
What is the health of your workplace culture ?
By Dr . Debbie Stoewen & Dr . Kim Lambert
Emphasis on workplace culture in veterinary medicine is growing . Although workplace culture has not received much attention in the past , it is a welcome and timely topic as the profession considers the value of team-based care and the well-being of veterinary teams .
Perhaps spawned by the challenges of the pandemic , staff shortages , and the recruitment and retention of employees , employers have been in a place to rethink the ecosystem of their practices and how culture impacts employee well-being and keeps them engaged and committed to the organization .
Most of us spend the largest part of our daily life at work , and workplace culture influences health and well-being , as well as career satisfaction and longevity . 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 No matter our place of work , we are impacted by its culture and the effort that leaders put into cultivating a positive workplace culture .
Assessing the health of your workplace culture
Workplace culture can be thought of as a continuum extending from the unhealthiest ( i . e ., most toxic ) to the healthiest ( i . e ., most nontoxic ) culture .
Healthy Culture
Research shows that a workplace culture fostered by positive social connections , empathetic and supportive leaders , and psychological safety , leads to people who are healthier , perform better and are more loyal and committed . 5 Here are six essential characteristics of a healthy workplace culture :
• Caring for and being interested in colleagues
• Supporting one another , offering compassion when others are struggling
• Avoiding blame and forgiving errors
• Inspiring one another
• Highlighting the meaningfulness of work
• Treating one another with respect , gratitude , trust , and integrity 5
Toxic Culture
A toxic workplace culture is characterized by a range of negative and unethical behaviours , including intimidation , harassment , bullying , incivility , manipulation , infighting , discrimination , and exclusion . 1 , 3 , 6 Research shows that people who work in a toxic environment have an increased incidence of undue stress , negative rumination , insomnia , depression , substance use , and physical and mental health issues . 6 , 7 They are also less loyal and more likely to resign . 1 Practices struggle with the loss of productivity , the costs of mistakes , and high employee turnover . 1 , 6 , 7
A toxic workplace is identifiable by the presence of certain signs . It ’ s not the presence of any “ one ” of the signs that defines a toxic workplace , but rather the mix and extent to which any of the following are present :
• Overwork , unreasonable expectations , and lack of work-life balance
• Narcissistic leadership , micromanagement , and lack of organizational support
• Poor interpersonal relationships and team cohesion
• Poor communication , not heard , and gossip and rumours
• Negative attitudes , complaints , disrespect
• Disengagement , absenteeism , and burnout
• Low enthusiasm , morale , and trust
• Unfairness , favouritism , entitlement
• Resistance to change
• Excessive stress
• Fear of failure 2 , 6 , 8
When immersed in a toxic environment , it can be difficult to “ see , hear , and feel ” it , but with
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