Workplace toxicity is a reality many face, but few openly discuss. Whether in private or public organizations, unfair treatment, bullying, and discrimination persist in subtle yet damaging ways. Those who experience it often find themselves trapped in a dilemma: Should they speak up or stay silent?
The Cost of Speaking Up
Ideally, raising concerns should lead to positive change. But in reality, the process is often exhausting and discouraging. Reporting workplace issues usually involves a long chain of bureaucracy, filing complaints, going through multiple investigations, and attending stressful meetings, all while trying to maintain professionalism. By the time a decision is made, the person who spoke up may have already faced the consequences: lost opportunities, career stagnation, or even alienation from colleagues.
There’s also the societal conditioning that discourages confrontation. Many are told to leave it to God or just tolerate it for the sake of peace. But what happens when silence only empowers those who perpetuate the toxicity? The reality is that the more people endure without resistance, the more these unhealthy behaviors continue.
The Cost of Staying Silent
On the other hand, staying quiet isn’t without its own consequences. When people suppress their frustrations, stress builds up. Workplaces with toxic cultures create environments where employees are mentally exhausted, emotionally drained, and physically unwell. Studies have shown that chronic workplace stress raises cortisol levels, weakens the immune system, and contributes to long-term health problems. The toll is real: people wake up dreading their jobs, their passion fades, and even the most positive individuals start to lose their drive.
The Biggest Disease: Waiting for a Hero
One of the most toxic patterns in workplaces is the waiting game. People who have been in the system for years, refuse to voice out. They’ve seen the problems, they’ve experienced the toxicity, but they choose to stay silent because they want to protect themselves. Instead, they encourage newcomers to speak up and be the hero who takes the risk.
Why? Because nobody wants trouble. Everyone wants to play the safe game. And so, what happens?
The new person enters with enthusiasm, high hopes, and a strong sense of justice.
They notice the unfairness, the politics, and the toxic behaviors.
They speak up, thinking that their voice will create change.
Instead, they face backlash and bullying and learn the hard way that the system resists change.
Over time, they, too, stop fighting and simply learn to survive.
It’s a cycle that repeats endlessly. Instead of fixing the problem, everyone tolerates it. It’s just like dirty politics, where people keep supporting the same ineffective leaders, knowing they won’t bring change but refusing to break the cycle. People hate the system, yet they allow it to continue, letting new employees suffer the same fate they once did.
How a Toxic Environment Affects Productivity
Toxic workplaces don’t just affect employees on a personal level; they severely damage overall productivity. Here’s how:
Loss of Enthusiasm – Employees who were once eager to contribute begin to feel drained. They start their jobs with excitement and passion, but when they face constant negativity, office politics, or mistreatment, their energy fades. Seeing the people who create the toxicity daily kills their motivation, making it harder for them to stay engaged.
Withholding Ideas and Effort – Even when employees have innovative ideas, they hesitate to share them. Why? Because they feel unappreciated, unheard, or even dismissed. Over time, they stop trying. What’s the point of contributing when their efforts go unrecognized?
Declining Motivation and Productivity – When employees no longer find meaning in their work, their output drops. They shift from wanting to earn their salary through hard work to simply collecting their salary. Initially, they take pride in giving their best, ensuring that their income is well-deserved. But when they see that effort goes unnoticed, the mindset changes: Just do the bare minimum and survive.
A Chain Reaction of Apathy – If one or two employees disengage, it may not seem like a big issue. However, when an entire team or department adopts this mindset, it becomes a real problem. When everyone stops caring, productivity plummets, creativity dies, and the entire organization suffers.
This is how toxic work environments gradually destroy any organization’s potential from within. Employees who once had the drive to build, grow, and innovate become passive, detached, and indifferent. And once that happens, recovering a healthy work culture becomes an uphill battle.
How Do We Navigate This Dilemma?
While there’s no one-size-fits-all solution, here are some ways to manage the challenge:
Pick Your Battles Wisely – Not every fight is worth engaging in, but some are necessary. Focus on the issues that significantly impact your well-being and career growth.
Find Strength in Numbers – Workplace toxicity thrives in isolation. Building strong professional networks and alliances can provide emotional support and collective power when addressing issues.
Document Everything – If you choose to escalate a matter, keep detailed records of incidents, emails, and conversations. This makes it harder for others to dismiss or manipulate the situation.
Seek Alternative Solutions – When direct confrontation isn’t an option, small actions, like setting firm boundaries, improving skills, and exploring better opportunities, can reclaim control over your career.
Know When to Walk Away – Sometimes, the best decision is to leave a toxic environment. No job is worth your health, happiness, or self-respect.
A Call for Change
Toxic work environments don’t just harm individuals; they affect productivity, innovation, and overall organizational success. Leadership plays a crucial role in shaping workplace culture, and accountability should not be a mere formality but a priority. Organizations must implement real mechanisms to address workplace issues efficiently rather than burdening individuals with lengthy, stressful procedures that ultimately discourage them from seeking justice.
The reality is, many people endure these struggles in silence, believing they have no choice. But conversations about workplace toxicity need to happen more often. Change begins when people refuse to normalize unfair treatment and start demanding better.
And most importantly, stop waiting for a hero. If everyone plays it safe, nothing will ever change. The cycle continues. But if people take small, strategic steps to challenge toxicity together, workplaces can finally become what they were meant to be: spaces for growth, creativity, and genuine success.
Dr. Pavitira Manogaran is a Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Hospitality, Tourism and Wellness (FHPK), Universiti Malaysia Kelantan. She specializes in Business Information Technology, Hospitality Management, and Sustainable Practices. For inquiries or collaborations, she can be contacted at [email protected].
