30 People Share Things In Job Descriptions That Instantly Scream “Toxic”
Interview With Author
Most of us working in the contemporary office environment have been close, or gone way off the deep end of the point where you feel like enough is enough. You take your hand cream from your desk, have one last drink with your beloved colleagues, and leave all that’s been bugging you behind.
And then you realize you’re out in the job hunt. But while screening through the open positions, you often see something like a “fast-paced environment,” which feels totally innocent, but according to Twitter user Sophia Benoit, means “toxic.”
Sophia’s tweet amassed 34K retweets and 332.9K likes and got more people sharing signs that warn that the workplace environment can be indeed very toxic. What we consider toxic is surely a subject of debate, but you have to keep your eyes and ears open when you are about to dive into an environment you’ll stay in for five days a week.
Psst! Check out our previous article with illuminating moments people realized they were indeed in over their heads in a toxic workplace.
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Bored Panda reached out to Sophia Benoit, writer, comedian, and the author of the book “Well, This Is Exhausting.” Sophia’s tweet “when a job listing says the words 'fast-paced environment' that means toxic” amassed 342.6k likes and sparked a much-needed discussion on identifying and working in a toxic workplace environment.
Sophia believes that “almost all workplaces, at least in the system we currently have in the US, have at the bare minimum points of toxicity. I think it’s part and parcel of our poor relationship to work.”
Moreover, “Workers are asked to put up with a lot that they should not have to endure, from things that seem 'small,' like someone commenting on your appearance, to big things like labor violations.” So in that sense, Sophia confirmed that she has worked in toxic work environments.
"Why won't you regularly stay late for no overtime?" is also often connected to "It's like you're only doing this job for the money!" Um, let me refer you to a dictionary you can see what the definition of "job" is...
"Work hard, play hard" was pretty much the motto of a corporation in my area. A summer student was reprimanded because he didn't eat lunch with his colleagues on the team (he had nothing in common with them). So he ate lunch with them 2 or 3 times as week and listened to their conversations (no, he didn't get paid extra for that).
According to Sophia, a toxic workplace can be defined as “Any company that exploits workers, any environment that sees the lives of workers as there to serve the company; any company that allows for or excuses abuse or mistreatment. Any company that underpays or undervalues their workers.”
The term also applies to “Companies that get around labor laws, that try to give you as little benefits as possible. Companies that allow people higher up in the company to get away with shit, who enable them. Companies who don’t actively work against the sexism, racism, ableism, classism, and other bigotry baked into our society. That’s all toxic.”
And the CEO is under 35 years old with the maturity of an 18 year old.
For me, the phrase "we are like a family" is the biggest, reddest flag on Earth. I've learnt nothing good has ever come from it.
When asked what the "fast-paced environment" in the job listing actually signals, Sophia said that it means the company cares most about production. “Time is money to them; YOUR time—literally your life is money for them. That is a resource. And many, many, many companies measure their success on productivity.”
Sophia continued: “The route to that, they imagine, is an environment where they expect workers to put in 16-hour days or to always be on the clock or to answer emails within minutes or to be willing to be yelled at or to never sit down.”
The book author could have never guessed her tweet would go so viral, as she said she tweets “279 dumb things a day and I usually mute the tweet after I tweet it so I don’t keep checking my phone,” but she does see why so many people recognized something relevant in it. “We’re all in capitalism hell,” Sophia concluded.
“We don’t want to train you, you should be an applicant with experience.”
Boss asked me if I knew how to multitask. I asked if they knew how to multipay.
A toxic workplace environment is something you’d never recommend to anyone. No matter what exactly causes it, there’s no secret it’s hazardous to our physical and mental health, and puts a stop to any professional growth you can think of.
Sometimes it’s the boss, the other times it’s colleagues, sometimes it’s the whole company culture or its attitude towards you as a worker. In any case, if you feel like you're being pressured, neglected, or abused in any shape or form, you should run away as far as you can.
It's even better when they list products or services which only they use or produce like home grown software.
I once was interviewed for a client role like that. I declined and they wondered why I didn't want the job.
But the best way to tackle workplace toxicity is not to get into it in the first place. So whenever you’re in the interview or simply see a job listing, the little red flags have to be taken seriously. First, it’s peculiar buzzwords and mission statements that reveal how companies talk about themselves in a coded way.
For example, Amazon’s common phrases included “fast-paced environment” and “maniacal,” while Slack’s included “lasting relationships'' and “care deeply.” So you can get the vibe where corporate culture is more employee-friendly.
This is not always bad... I've done this. Built a communications department from scratch that actually WORKED.
Also, watch out for the benefits that come as free stuff. Free food or video games are a few examples, but essentially, they are a trap that doesn’t give you much to begin with. If companies did care about their workers, they’d pay enough so that they could easily buy their own drinks and games.
I saw an ad that had all three of thsoe code phrases in it. I concluded that if I had that much spirit and self-starting, I didn't need to work for someone *else*, let alone *that* place!
Having worked in academics for quite I while I can confirm that the "crying chair" is definitely a thing. Actually having an environment that recognizes that the grad student experience is stressful and there are going to be times that the breaking point is reached is probably a good thing.
I mean I have a sense of humor. Not saying it's good or in any way compatible with future coworkers, but I HAVE a sense of humor.
And thirdly, always look around the environment when you go in for a job interview. How do the employees look? Do they seem tired, anxious, silent? This is a huge red flag, since you can't be that happy if you’re on the verge of burnout.
Also, sometimes the red flag may not be so prominent, but your gut is telling you to watch out. In these cases, make sure you trust your gut and go with that feeling even if the company promises all the nice things about it. After all, first impressions matter and they linger.
Learn how to sell used cars, and you can sell anything ---- overheard by the POS trying to upsell me on, of all things, windows.
I always return the favor. It tends to put people in their place... Also, it helps that I'm a massive asshole, so I ALWAYS have good ammo.
This is better advice than just blanket "other duties as required is a red flag". In my experience, this phrase is to get around people who say "that's not my job" and all you're asking them to do is put their papers in the recycling instead of the regular waste. (Can't think of the term for these people - the ones who stick so rigidly to the exact terms of their job description and never anything more. If it doesn't say "washes their coffee mug" it's not their job. Oh, and then complain that they never get promoted because they've shown no inclination to do anything other than exactly what is in their current job description. To the letter.) Do be aware of it, but take it on advisement with the rest of the interview feedback.
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In the Trades, for the most part, I don't have to deal with this. Job ads are like "We need a mechanic to do brakes. Must have experience doing brakes. Must be certified doing brakes. Brakes."
Then you get the CV- no experience in brakes, but can change tyres, and that's close to the brakes.
Load More Replies... Funny how almost Zero of these are a problem in my country, and its for one single reason: We are HEAVILY Unionized here, and if a firm tried to pull any of that crap, they'd get bent over a barrel and reamed savagely. Metaphorically of course...
I'm in the US. Alas, they defanged unions with propaganda about 'what did your money get you'? Well, for starters... fair wages, safe workplaces, vacation time, mandatory extra pay for overtime....
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Welp, I flipping hope I reach my goal of becoming self- employed.... thanks for the extra push, all those who contributed to this.
After more than 15 years of trying and failing to keep a regular job, I said screw it and started my own business. I wish you all the best and I hope you get your own business too. Good luck my friend :)
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In the Trades, for the most part, I don't have to deal with this. Job ads are like "We need a mechanic to do brakes. Must have experience doing brakes. Must be certified doing brakes. Brakes."
Then you get the CV- no experience in brakes, but can change tyres, and that's close to the brakes.
Load More Replies... Funny how almost Zero of these are a problem in my country, and its for one single reason: We are HEAVILY Unionized here, and if a firm tried to pull any of that crap, they'd get bent over a barrel and reamed savagely. Metaphorically of course...
I'm in the US. Alas, they defanged unions with propaganda about 'what did your money get you'? Well, for starters... fair wages, safe workplaces, vacation time, mandatory extra pay for overtime....
Load More Replies... Welp, I flipping hope I reach my goal of becoming self- employed.... thanks for the extra push, all those who contributed to this.
After more than 15 years of trying and failing to keep a regular job, I said screw it and started my own business. I wish you all the best and I hope you get your own business too. Good luck my friend :)
Load More Replies...