Intro

Spotting toxic employees is easier said than done, however, HRMatrix is here to make the process much simpler than expected. It takes more than empirical evidence to figure out who is toxic and who is not. What’s important is that you, as management, remain involved to maintain the healthiness of a workplace environment. You have to investigate employee relationships and keep track of misconduct to not which employees is causing issues. You have to know the difference between occasional conflict and reoccurring misconduct. 

Reoccurring Misconduct 

This is the first red flag you should be looking out for. Reoccurring misconduct must be traced back to the source. Who is causing problems? Why are they causing problems? If it’s reoccurring, you must have a one-on-one conversation with your employee to understand where they’re coming from. Maybe they need to be heard, and maybe there’s a valid reason as to why so much conflict is occurring. If the type of issues that are affiliated with your employee is minor, it’s important that you remind them of the type of professional attitude you expect from them. If it’s severe, you will have to take action. Regardless of the type of conflict or misconduct, if it’s reoccurring, it’s a red flag. 

Poor Workplace Relationships

Another indication of a toxic employee is the poor relationships they have with other coworkers. While sometimes an employee might be outcasted and perceived as a pariah, oftentimes when an employee has poor relationships with nearly everyone in the office it probably means that they are the toxic source. Keep an eye out for employees who typically do not get along with most people in the workplace. Then, it is suggested that you hold conversations with other employees to determine why this potentially toxic employee is unable to maintain healthy relationships in the workplace. Being communicative helps you receive information that you cannot assume just by merely observing the employee under question. 

Self-Centered Work Ethic

Lastly, a toxic employee only cares about their personal gain. That means they will disregard all other responsibilities duties or expectations that might benefit the company/business altogether. A toxic employee is only concerned with how they will advance in their career and typically does not pay mind to the well-being of other employees. This will foster an unhealthy environment and will actually hinder growth overall. Be wary of self-centered work ethics. Have a conversation with the employee that appears to be exhibiting toxic traits so that you can understand the root of the issue and maybe even help the employee achieve a better mindset.