All companies want to maximize their profit. That's a simple truth. So, you would think that all companies would want to ensure that they do everything possible to achieve that goal.
 
However, that is not always the case. One of the reasons for this is the fact that there are a lot of factors affecting profitability. One of those factors is the state of mind of the employees who work for the organization. To complicate matters even further, there are a lot of factors that affect the state of mind of the employees.
 
The factor that we're discussing in this particular blog post is the toxicity of the workplace environment.
 
One might be tempted to think that the extent to which a work environment is toxic primarily affects the rate of employee turnover. While it is true that it does affect turnover, that's not all that it affects. (And for posterity's sake, a high rate of turnover also affects profitability.)
 
A toxic environment doesn't just convince employees to quit; it also affects their state of mind leading up to their decision to quit. Since they're not operating in an optimal fashion mentally, that means they're also not operating in an optimal fashion in terms of their production. And if production suffers, then ultimately profitability is going to suffer. They go hand-in-hand.
 
Below are four tips for ensuring that your company's workplace environment does not become toxic:
 
#1 - Communicate frequently.
 
Unfortunately, when people don't have enough information about something (or any information at all), it's human nature for them to assume the worst. If you have a bunch of employees who are assuming the worst about your company, then you have fertile ground for a toxic environment. Strive to communicate frequently and communicate well regarding everything.
 
#2 - Be consistent with company policies.
 
What is true for one employee should be true for all employees. If not, then people will begin to think that some employees are receiving preferential treatment. That's a great way to breed hostility and resentment in the ranks. And, that's right, hostility and resentment also contribute to toxicity.
 
#3 - Hold people accountable.
 
Once again, this must be done for everybody. You can't hold some people accountable and not others. That also gives the impression that management is giving preferential treatment to select employees. It's critical for employees to believe that there is a certain level of fairness within the organization. If they don't believe that's the case, then they've lost their motivation.
 
#4 - Identify and address problem employees.
 
In some instances, it's the employees themselves who contribute to a toxic work environment. Workplace bullies fall into this category. This is defined as anybody who harasses another employee, either verbally or physically. People do not want to feel intimidated when they go to work, and if those people believe that management is not going to do anything about it, then toxicity sets in. It's imperative that management deals effectively with any employees who are "bad apples."
 
It's important to remember that no matter what is causing the workplace to become toxic, employees will ultimately blame company officials and members of management. They will stop trusting the company and they will seek employment elsewhere.
 
Are you currently looking for great new employees for your organization? Contact Time Staffing today to find out more about our placement services for employers!