There are many challenges that must be faced in the world of work. Starting from achieving targets, inter-departmental communication, to building a positive work culture. However, there is one challenge that often goes unnoticed. Even though it has a big impact on the work environment. This is the presence of toxic employees in the workplace.
What are Toxic Employees in the Workplace?
Toxic employees are workers who show detrimental attitudes in the office environment. Both directly and indirectly. They are not just incompetent people. More than that, their behavior actively or passively creates an unhealthy work atmosphere. Here are some common characteristics of toxic employees.
- Always negative and like to complain, even about small things.
- Refusing to cooperate or often sabotaging teamwork.
- Spreading gossip and rumors that damage the reputation of coworkers.
- Lack of responsibility, but quick to blame others when mistakes occur.
- Having a high ego, having difficulty accepting criticism, and tending to always feel right.
- Manipulative, creating drama or conflict for personal gain.
- Demeaning superiors or coworkers, either openly or implicitly.
There are many factors that can cause someone to become a toxic employee. It can come from personal background, work pressure, lack of effective leadership, to company culture.
How to Manage Toxic Employees
The presence of toxic employees in the workplace is clearly very detrimental to the organization. Not only does it lower team morale. But it can also cause high turnover, reduce work quality, and have a direct impact on achieving business goals.
Therefore, managers, HRD, and organizational leaders need to take strategic steps to manage this situation professionally and firmly. Here are some effective ways to deal with toxic employees.
1. Recognize and Evaluate Their Behavior
Based on the explanation on the Business Training Media YouTube channel, the first step is to recognize and identify toxic behavior objectively. Use real evidence, not just assumptions or gossip. Document the negative actions they take. Such as ethical violations, conflicts, or complaints from coworkers.
2. Provide Professional Feedback
Once negative behavior is identified, invite the employee to speak directly and professionally. Deliver feedback clearly, focusing on actions rather than personality. Explain the impact on the team and organization.
For example, “I notice that you often interrupt during meetings. This makes it difficult for colleagues to express their opinions.”
3. Set Clear Expectations and Boundaries
To prevent this from happening again, it is important to set boundaries and expectations for desired behavior. If necessary, create a written agreement. The goal is for toxic employees to know what to change and the consequences if they don’t do it in the workplace.
4. Give Them the Opportunity to Change
Although toxic, some employees may not fully realize the impact of their behavior. Give them time and support to change. This can be done through soft skills training, employee counseling, or special coaching.
5. Involve HR in Formal Handling
If the behavior does not improve, it is time to involve HR to follow up formally. HR can provide a warning letter, administrative sanctions, or other disciplinary actions according to company policy. All of these processes must be in accordance with procedures to be fair and legal.
However, if all efforts have been made and there is no improvement. Then the last step we need to consider is termination of employment. This is to protect the welfare of the team as a whole and maintain the company’s productivity.
The decision is certainly not easy. But sometimes it takes wise steps to eliminate the source of poison from within the organization.
So, toxic employees can be a big obstacle in creating a safe and productive work environment. Therefore, it is important for leaders and HRD to be able to identify this negative behavior early on.
Proper handling not only protects the work atmosphere. But also shows that the company upholds a positive and supportive work culture. In the end, managing toxic employees in the workplace is not just about avoiding problems. But also building a solid, healthy, and high-performance team.
