I won’t lie — my last workplace was the worst I’ve ever worked in for so many reasons, and at the same time, the one where I learned the most! So I want to share these 10 lessons I learned from being in a toxic workplace.
The Offended Boss
If you stumble upon an “offended boss” who refuses to talk to you because they feel offended for no clear reason, then congratulations — you are at the center of a toxic workplace.
The offended boss not talking to you is just the surface. Underneath, there is a deep, complex network of alternative sources of truth.
This kind of management will never acknowledge anything you say or do. Frankly, the only reason to have a conversation with them (because it is never just one person) is to receive a random slap on the wrist for some unrelated, low-priority, no-one-cares-about issue that they most likely understood — or misunderstood — through their “network of truth.”
In my case, it was really sad. When we finally talked at the end to clear things up between us, it turned out that we had about 90% alignment on the subjects we had never discussed. It was a huge waste of time on both sides to miss the opportunity to clear things up earlier.
Say Goodbye to Justice
Any sense of reason, justice, or basic common sense will become a desert mirage.
In a toxic workplace, there is only authoritarian rule: “because I said so” or “because I feel like it.” no data and certainly no facts. Everything is covered in what I call a cloud of cognitive dissonance, where everyone dance the “stupid dance” – even otherwise really clever people.
There’s a reason why it feels similar to what you see with Trump and his surrounding: In a toxic company, there is always at least one “Trump” who needs to be pleased by enormous group of people.
It can escalate to real extremes of ignorance and bad decision-making — enough to bring a company down to its knees.
Hype or Be a Non-Believer
In a toxic company, you are obliged to attend company events and will actually be watched to see if you show enough enthusiasm.
If you don’t, you become an outcast — a non-believer who must be punished for their imaginary sins by a not-so-imaginary Stasi in a modern form (laughable Kingsguard HR bosses, who were really crossing the line to the extent of trying to find out who was asking the anonymous questions).
You can truly become the company’s witch, and people will actively be looking for you like a Temu version of them Nazgûl
Non-Existing Promotions or Career Plans
In a toxic workplace, there is never a promotion or pay-raise procedure. The only way to get something is to be part of the “cool gang” — mediocre at best, the group of the committed. If you hype enough, your portion is secured. The only thing you need to do in return is stay silent and keep hyping.
Ironically, the company values — which were even printed on the walls included things like speaking up, transparency and seeking the truth.
Constant Bad News on Any Idle Friday
In a toxic workplace, layoffs aren’t accidents — they’re part of the culture.
It’s a poorly performing organization, so employees are periodically “hunted” and displayed like trophies — usually on a Friday.
“X decided to take a career break.”
“Y is taking some well-deserved time with family.”
“XX number of people had to go, but the future is bright!”
Even when people aren’t publicly sacrificed in some corporate “hunger games,” there’s a constant stream of departures. It’s a quiet war of attrition — you either flee, or you’re slowly poisoned. Some people simply reach their limit. Others are so drained that escape feels like the only option.
And if you dare to ask a logical question — like who is going to inherit the disaster those people were managing — you’re flagged as disloyal. As a non-believer.
You Will Find True Friendships
People tend to unite in difficult situations, especially when they believe they are on the side of justice.
You might find true comrades in the trenches — people who will stand by you.
This is actually one of the positive aspect of working for a toxic company: shared trauma, unite people.
Friend or Foe
In a toxic workplace, there is no real team — only groups of people united to defend themselves against other groups. I’m personally amazed by this, but I also acknowledge that I was sometimes too harsh with certain people. In a survival environment like this, there is always a risk of becoming toxic yourself.
So always reflect — and choose your allies wisely.
You Won’t Fix a Toxic Workplace
In the end, I burned the bridge with that toxic company — something I never do, due to professional ethics.
As a final attempt to improve things for the people I was leaving behind, I wrote a fact-based essay to the CEO and met with him personally 1:1. What I tried to explain was that there is nothing wrong with implementing changes — but it must be done carefully, with a deep understanding of all the moving parts that may or may not work. I told him that the hardest part of working at the company was simply being left alone to do the work.
It had absolutely zero effect.
Afterward, I was described as “a non-believer who didn’t agree with the vision of the recently appointed (yes-man) CTO” and someone who “can’t embrace change.”
Exactly me — the person who enabled AI-driven, case-study-worthy, end-to-end testing of the entire business, with all of its customisations (literally a Frankenstein), running every day to ensure the machine operated smoothly.
Toxic Places Are Doomed to Remain Toxic
Sooner or later, karma catches up.
Recently, the whole platform went down for more than 36 hours. This would have been unthinkable before, yet now it’s being called instantly on the spot as “a dramatic success” — and a way to undo the damage supposedly caused by the non-believers, who are actually called quote: “incompetent, with bad intent, fraud, or a combination”. This is even before any aftermath can be accessed and fixed, and on the spot, a new promotion of “AI director” was announced to praise the enormous success.
Meanwhile, really competent people are long gone, while the layers of believers are stacked in the cloud on top of a dumpster fire.
Working in a Toxic Company Is Like Hardening Steel
The Paradox of working for a toxic company is that it is not all bad. You become stronger and learn how to survive in harsh environments. You see how bad decisions ricochet into wider damage. You witness destruction created for literally no gains. You see good people suffer.
But you also learn how to find a way forward. How to become better. How to endure. You learn new skills — and how to deliver some of your best work despite everything.
And if you know where to draw the line, just like the liquidators of the Chernobyl disaster, you understand that you can only stay on the roof for a limited amount of time. Stay longer, and you will get hurt — both psychologically and physically.
