Signs of Toxic Workplace

 

Signs of a Toxic Workplace

 

Author: By Lasia Kretzel & Kylie Stanton 

Source: https://globalnews.ca/news/9466409/northern-vancouver-island-doctors-toxic-workplace/

Kretzel, L., & Stanton, K. (2023, February 7). Northern Vancouver Island physicians call for resignation of region’s top doctor - BC. Global News. https://globalnews.ca/news/9466409/northern-vancouver-island-doctors-toxic-workplace/

 

Regardless of how attractive a job may seem; the work environment can profoundly influence one's perspective. To illustrate this, let's consider a fast-food restaurant paying its employees nearly $20 per hour, which rivals the starting wages in some skilled trades. You might wonder why this is relevant to the current topic. Have you ever questioned why there are typically younger teenagers and older individuals working at such establishments? The answer is quite straightforward: the working conditions take a significant toll on the employees. These workplaces are often managed by individuals who lack relevant work experience or training in the field, resulting in a high employee turnover rate. The key point here is that unless employers take significant steps to care for their employees, it's unlikely that anyone would want to work there.

Kretzel and Stanton (2023) delve deeply into a problem that has become a pandemic in Canada. The country has recently faced financial challenges, with soaring inflation rates and all-time high mortgage rates. This situation is causing widespread dissatisfaction. In a recent article, Kretzel and Stanton (2023) report that doctors are now calling for the resignation of the Chief Medical Officer of the Vancouver Islands, Dr. Ben Williams. The doctors emphasize that Dr. Williams has failed to effectively communicate with his colleagues, provide a reasonable work-life balance, and address their mental health needs. As a result, many doctors have been forced to take medical leave to cope with the situation, while others have simply quit. This situation is discouraging potential doctors from joining the island. Additionally, Kretzel and Stanton (2023) mention an incident in which a doctor received a call from Dr. Williams expressing concern about violating the workplace policy regarding pets.

Factual data also reveals that since 2021, there has been a 14% increase in healthcare workers who are dissatisfied with their working environment, bringing the total to 60%. In summary, the majority of healthcare practitioners are dissatisfied with their work environment due to the lack of support for their well-being from their superiors.

 After everything that has been discussed, I can easily identify with the healthcare professionals on Vancouver Island. Dealing with a boss who neglects their responsibilities to the point of driving employees to resign is a scenario I've witnessed frequently in food-related industries. Perhaps it's due to the high levels of mental stress, or maybe it's a lack of respect for the workers. In my role as a server, I've encountered some of the kindest customers and some of the rudest ones, but it always seems that management excels in amplifying the impact of the negative experiences. When it comes to positive feedback, management is conspicuously absent, but when it's criticism, they seem to drain every ounce of energy from me.