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When job hunting, many of us are willing to do just about anything to get hired. But in the process, we tend to forget that it’s not just companies interviewing us—we’re also interviewing them. That’s why, when we get the chance, we need to think twice before accepting the final offer.
To help with that, one man on Threads asked people to share the first signs that a job is going to be toxic. Check out some of their best advice below, and if you’ve got any wisdom to add, drop it in the comments!
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
“We wear many hats here” means you’ll be doing two or three jobs for the price of one
RELATED:
#3
When the manager makes excuses for the coworker's laziness. They favor the lazy coworker and punish the hard worker with more work.
Bored Panda reached out to Country, the poster behind the viral Threads question, to find out what inspired him to ask it.
As an award-winning event manager, multicultural marketer, and digital creator, he’s spent his career bridging culture, conversation, and brand storytelling—so he’s seen it all.
“I’ve worked entry-level jobs in fast food, retail, and call centers, and now I manage marketing campaigns for brands like the Super Bowl, Oprah Winfrey, and the FDA’s Fresh Empire initiative,” he told us. “I’ve seen both sides, from struggling to get a lunch break to leading teams on multimillion-dollar projects. I wanted to start a conversation that let people share their experiences and recognize the warning signs of a toxic job before they get stuck in one.”
#4
They tell you don’t talk about pay
Earonn - 8 months ago
Talked about my salary, company tried to come at me with "it's not allowed". I pointed out the laws in my home country which are not the slaveowner's laws of the USA. Company had to shut up. Will I never get a career here? Yes. Was is worth it? Also yes.
Mike F 8 months ago
Sorry to burst your bubble, but it's permitted by law to discuss wages and there's nothing a company can (legally) do about it.
Load More Replies...
BrownEyedPanda 8 months ago
Won't wash in California. Illegal AF, and just begging for an asskicking in court.
Ben Taylor 8 months ago
Actually, against federal law in the United States. They don't want you and your coworkers to share info because pay disparity would be transparent!!
#6
When the manager texts the entire group about a mistake you did instead of just directly messaging you
#7
When there are more than 3 interview stages. Worked for the companies like that. Company culture was always toxic.
Tabitha 8 months ago
Especially when it’s a minor job paying very little. I can see more than one interview for an important executive position. I want a new CEO to be thoroughly vetted. But a new cashier making minimum wage? Come the f**k on, people. One interview (with only one experienced interviewer who is great at reading people, instead of multiple interviewers who don’t know what they’re doing) that goes well, plus a good background check should be enough.
#8
when you start your first day and realize…almost every one just started working there. it’s giving high turnover
#9
“We’re like a close knit family here.”
#10
When people constantly talk sh*t behind peoples back and then being fake to them 😭
#11
When there is no professionalism, a lot of gossip, and also the managers never care about u as a human and only the customers matter
#12
Higher ups playing favorites ( managers/ supervisors )
StrangeOne 8 months ago
It's bad where I work. Some people get away with everything. Others get written up for nothing.
#13
They are late to the interview they set up. Immediately no
#15
A clearly s**t manager from the word go who contacts you at 7pm at night asking you to do something you’ve never done before and insists they have it first thing in the morning, then chastises you for not knowing the process of the task they have assigned.
#16
weekly working lunches.
every single time i’ve worked at a place like this, the leadership had NO boundaries
#17
When orientation or onboarding isn’t planned out properly. This happened at my current job that should’ve been a red flag 🚩 to me 7 months ago. However, I will be leaving tomorrow. Last day thank goodness 😅
#18
Getting PTO approved requires you to jump through any hoop
Geoffrey Scott 8 months ago
One of the good things about my last gig before retirement. I called a couple separate times on different PTO requests to ensure I could make reservations for my PTO. "Did you put down what days?".."Yes"..."You get it then"
#19
As soon as your manager talks negatively about one of your teammates in your department, it's over.
Mike F 8 months ago
That would depend on your definition of talking negatively. If there's a problem with a teammate's production or accuracy, then it would not be out of the ordinary to discuss with another team member. But, if the manager starts talking 💩 about another's personal life or choices, that's a problem.
#20
When the tagline says that they’re looking for highly motivated self starters.. aka we won’t help you / train you properly so you better be able to think quickly on your feet
#21
People eating lunch in their cars. It usually means they can’t eat in peace without being interrupted for work.
#22
When the manager starts texting you, pretending to be a friend the first two weeks.
ITS A SETUP. RUN. WHEN. THIS. HAPPENS.
#23
Bait & switch. They called you in for a social media management position but then say we don't do that here - this job is direct sales.
#24
“Everyone does everything”
#26
Being given a "new" manager on your first day because the one who hired you quit.
#27
1.the bosses favors the obviously bad employees who can't work independently and try to pass their job responsibility to you
2. The Managers & Executive Secretaries can't construct a simple business letters
3. Micro managing
4. They appoint people who are unqualified for the job
5. The Human Resources department are gaslighters and always condescending
6. When they are related to each other
StrangeOne 8 months ago
When the managers try to play psycho-analyst and proceed to tell you who you are, what you're feeling and how to change yourself. Then tell you everything that's bad about yourself. Then when you break down they try to lift up your confidence again. Absolute mindfuck.
#30
maga bumper stickers throughout the parking lot
Cammy Mack 8 months ago
Any politics. "This politician is bad" or "this politician is good"; c'mon you bunch of sheep. They don't care about us.
#31
Manager telling you don't argue with the boss.
StrangeOne 8 months ago
Being treated like you're a child at work messes with your brain. Long enough and you start feeling like you're a kid.
#32
your new manager jokingly telling you they’re envious of how well you’re treated by skips during your first 1:1, and then proceed to micromanage you until you burn out, get tossed around and quiet quit
#33
When they want to know everything about your private life
#35
Had them tell me in the interview “We need someone who doesn’t need a lot of thanks or recognition. Ya know, a team player taking it for the team.” 👀
#36
When one person gets into trouble everyone else is getting disciplined as well.
#37
They started looking for help now that they’re swamped. It’s a sign that you’re not going to get trained properly.
Alex Schneider 8 months ago
I asked if they have SOPs for every workstep,any manuals and if there are experienced trainers,that get time beside their daily workamount for training or answering questions
#38
The long term employees won't meet your eyes.
StrangeOne 8 months ago
And act like your supervisor. You don't need a dozens eyes observing your every micromovement.
#39
If you’re a nurse, they have no core staff. All travelers.
#40
Telling you you have to start at the lowest of the chain and work your way up .. excuse me I have 15 yrs exp in this I will not be a cashier before I do the job I went to school for
#41
Your supervisor vents their frustration about the business while training you
Michael Largey 8 months ago (edited)
I prefer a supervisor being up front about things from the get go.
#42
The interviewers sent a proxy (way junior) for them to conduct the interview, and they recorded me without asking for consent.
#43
When they ask “Can you multitask?”
#44
“We want a drama free candidate “
#45
When they say it's competitive and exciting.
Competitive means the old b***hes in HR gone hate you for being younger and pretty.
Exciting is chaotic with a bow on.
#46
If they’re short staffed when u go in for your interview.
#47
"We're looking for a rockstar" - you'll do the job of five people for the salary of half a person
"Growth opportunities" - You'll grow into burnout, and the opportunity is to quit
"Work hard, play hard" - You'll work hard. That's it
"Fast-paced environment” - pure chaos. Every day is a fire drill, and you're the extinguisher
"We reward initiative" - With more work
"We trust our employees" - We trust you'll answer Slack messages at midnight
#48
When Some ppl get away with everything while they‘re incompetent for their job.
#49
When the person training you isn’t fully trained.
#50
You have to stay late. The FIRST day.
#51
My new manager had the quote “It’s the hard days that make us stronger.” in her email signature. One of the most inept and toxic environments I ever worked in.
Michael Largey 8 months ago
It is the hard days that make us stronger. They give us the will to leave.
#52
When they won’t listen to what you expect from a job in the interview, like pay, hours, etc.
#53
When the boss interviewing you says they expect you in by 7am, even though your job starts at 9. And expects you to leave at 7pm just because you’re an apprentice.
Kat Alison 8 months ago
Does the boss come in at 7:00 AM? Probably not. So, find out when he/she comes in….and come in 10 or 15 minutes before that.
#55
My first day, my coworker told me “Everybody gains at least 25 Ibs when they start working here”
#56
They immediately try to add you on social media.
BrownEyedPanda 8 months ago
Desperate for great reviews, while micromanaging what you post on line. George Orwell would implode
#57
Pizza parties
quentariel 8 months ago
They are not bad if they are not an excuse to skip a monetary bonus. Especially in smaller places offering pizza to employees isn't that expensive and it's simply a nice gesture to thank everyone after some particularly busy or hard day once in a while.
#59
The manager is working super hard to be your “friend” or is a “mother hen” (which is not gender specific).
#60
Job scope keep on changing
#61
They hire mostly teenagers
#62
When a coworker/manager calls you bestie, it’s the biggest ick there is in the workplace because they don’t even know me like that. 🤦♂️
BrownEyedPanda 8 months ago
Designed to get you to drop your guard. They expect you to regale them with intimate details of your life, while keeping silent as the grave about theirs. The more they know about you, the easier it is to keep you under their thumb.
#64
When everyone at the work place is THREATENED by you and your co-workers try to tell you what to do or trip you up.
#65
Went to a job shadow and nobody I talked to was there longer than a year. This branch had been open for 12 years🤓
#66
My boss told me “it’s not about doing your job well , it’s about if we like you or not.” 🤔🫠
#67
When everyone warns you not to transfer here because "the team leader will get you fired if she doesn't like you"
#68
In the UK if you have a Karen asking you if you’re alright every 5 minutes, start getting ready for the workplace bullying 🥺😂😂
#70
When your boss says he likes employees with an employer mindset. I’m not going above and beyond for you or this place, my friend 💀
#71
They hire u on the spot or they already telling you the tea about ppl before u even get to meet them
#72
The interviewer says “Anyone can say anything on their resume, but can you do the work?”
#73
From the few jobs I’ve had, it’s when in your first day, your manager or whoever gives you orientation, reads from a script verbatimly.
#74
For me was “here we grow horizontally”
#76
Other coworkers you’re meeting for the FIRST time telling you that you have to “choose your battles”
#78
When lazy co-workers always seem to get away with being lazy but others get micro-managed.
#79
On my first day of work, the senior technician which was recently promoted to manager, showed me his old office room. It looked similarly to a person with depression's home.
#80
When interviewers make all these lovely presentations introducing the company, asks you very generic skill-based questions about you, then ends the interview without letting you ask questions.
#81
They hire you right away.
Gabriel Camomescro 8 months ago
This is not always a bad thing. I have had a few insta-hire jobs, some good, some bad. Sometimes they are reasonable in their expectations and when someone meets those expectations, they see no reason to keep interviewing.
#82
When your boss describes his female boss as ‘as good as gold’.
Tabitha 8 months ago
Also be aware that the employee the boss singles out and says is a “standup guy”, or someone who “will immediately jump up to help you when you need it” is probably a Jekyll and Hyde, and will turn into the nastiest person you’ve ever met when the boss isn’t around, especially if you can’t do anything to further their career. In addition, once the boss is out of earshot, they s**t talk them. If you have any kind of pull with the higher ups, and can do something to help their career, they’ll be helpful and sweet as pie to your face while saying bad things about you when your back is turned.
#83
Making everyone in a law firm (including the lawyers) clock in and out with an actual time stamp machine.
Michael Largey 8 months ago (edited)
Well, when you're billing hours, you've got to track the hours. Refreshingly legit.
#84
When something happens people that never spoke to you start coming up to you being nosey asking you questions.
#86
Your manager is 22 with a kid.
What do you think ?
Tucker Cahooter 8 months ago
I remember about 40 years ago (yes, I'm that old and I remember it well), I started a new job. Within the first hour or so, three different women had come up to me at different times to introduce themselves and all of them said something along the lines of "This place would be much better if Paul left". There were actually two Pauls so I wasn't sure who they meant. The first Paul was a bit weird but harmless, however the other Paul I found out soon enough was a backstabbing sleazy creep. Pity it was a government department so getting rid of someone wasn't an easy thing to do
Sam 8 months ago
We let bosses take WAY too much license with our lives. It is definitely not ok to scream at employees and diminish them just to get some work done. Also, terrible way to manage anything. Motivate positively. If you don't, some of those employees are not only going to work slower on purpose, they may actively sabotage the company. Treating people right is win win. Treating people wrong is lose lose.
Tango Wox 8 months ago
A few of these strike me as odd, especially the break stuff, but maybe that's because I work in a field were we don't do lunch or 'breaks'. Honestly most feel very specific to traditional 9-5 white collar office work.
V 8 months ago
A lot of countries have legally mandated breaks for employees. It varies from industry to industry how the breaks work, but sometimes there's even penalties for employers when employees work through their break.
Load More Replies...
Matt Germster 8 months ago
90 to 99% of those are only deal breakers to those who do not have rent, medical bills, utilities to pay, or a car payment or insurance, etc... which is why 99% of these have a comment that starts off with "Same" or "That's how it is at my job.", all of these traits have become commonplace at most workplaces as most of us can vouch for.
Leah Banks 8 months ago
Forced employee "trauma bonding" ice breakers. I worked in a gym and every Friday we had team meetings where we all had to share the best and the worst parts of our week, and then run laps to "reset and recharge". No thanks!
Tucker Cahooter 8 months ago
I remember about 40 years ago (yes, I'm that old and I remember it well), I started a new job. Within the first hour or so, three different women had come up to me at different times to introduce themselves and all of them said something along the lines of "This place would be much better if Paul left". There were actually two Pauls so I wasn't sure who they meant. The first Paul was a bit weird but harmless, however the other Paul I found out soon enough was a backstabbing sleazy creep. Pity it was a government department so getting rid of someone wasn't an easy thing to do
Sam 8 months ago
We let bosses take WAY too much license with our lives. It is definitely not ok to scream at employees and diminish them just to get some work done. Also, terrible way to manage anything. Motivate positively. If you don't, some of those employees are not only going to work slower on purpose, they may actively sabotage the company. Treating people right is win win. Treating people wrong is lose lose.
Tango Wox 8 months ago
A few of these strike me as odd, especially the break stuff, but maybe that's because I work in a field were we don't do lunch or 'breaks'. Honestly most feel very specific to traditional 9-5 white collar office work.
V 8 months ago
A lot of countries have legally mandated breaks for employees. It varies from industry to industry how the breaks work, but sometimes there's even penalties for employers when employees work through their break.
Load More Replies... Matt Germster 8 months ago
90 to 99% of those are only deal breakers to those who do not have rent, medical bills, utilities to pay, or a car payment or insurance, etc... which is why 99% of these have a comment that starts off with "Same" or "That's how it is at my job.", all of these traits have become commonplace at most workplaces as most of us can vouch for.
Leah Banks 8 months ago
Forced employee "trauma bonding" ice breakers. I worked in a gym and every Friday we had team meetings where we all had to share the best and the worst parts of our week, and then run laps to "reset and recharge". No thanks!
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