Toxic
A Guide to Rebuilding Respect and Tolerance in a Hostile Workplace
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- $20.99
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- $20.99
Publisher Description
The workplace has become a hotbed of social toxicity – from the #MeToo movement to WeWork, it's clear that abusive bosses and entrenched cultures of discrimination have become more prevalent than ever. Such behaviour is not only simply wrong and damaging to its victims – it also results in reduced productivity, higher employee turnover, and can often leave a stain upon the wider reputation of an organization.
In Toxic, Clive Lewis draws upon his decades of experience in HR and mediation to distill the problems and underlying causes of toxic workplaces before tackling the issue head-on. He draws upon first-hand case studies from an eclectic array of workplaces (from corporate offices to hospitals) to demonstrate how toxicity can be both prevented and resolved. This is a practical guide for business leaders and HR professionals looking to preserve a peaceful workplace, while also providing tips for employees looking to remain productive and focused when working with troublesome colleagues in difficult environments.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
British business psychologist Lewis (Difficult Conversations) offers an old-fashioned look at contemporary social challenges within workplaces. Lewis contends that over the past 30 years, "workplaces have become hotbeds of conflict—toxic environments littered with eggshells." This is a time of unprecedented change, he argues, and leaders don't yet have the skills to navigate it. Workers, meanwhile, are left to seek out ways to handle it on their own, "which might include sick days, looking for an internal move, or leaving the company entirely." Illustrated with stories from his own work as a mediator, Lewis's advice for avoiding toxicity includes countering a lack of trust via teamwork, dealing with anxiety and stress by asking colleagues or friends for help, and offering technology-free days to employees to prevent overload. When suggesting remedies, his ideas are often delivered as plodding lists of bullet points, and most of the time they boil down to "just talk it through." The dry presentation and British point of view (American readers may get tripped up, for example, by the employee who takes six months of paid sick leave because of workplace tension) make this a tough sell in an overcrowded market. Readers can give this one a pass.
