These 50 Photos Show How Comically Toxic Many Workplaces Are

Even though not all of the actions we see in the pictures might qualify as such, labor law violations are more common than you think. Dallas-based law firm Brown & Fortunato enumerated the five violations that employers usually commit: not paying the required overtime, paying below the minimum wage, failing to ensure a safe workspace, failing to cover an employee’s work-related injuries, and misclassification of a worker.

Common violations also vary from state to state in the US. In New Hampshire, the list includes illegal employment of workers under 18, failure to record hours worked, and failure to secure and maintain workers’ compensation.

Remember the ‘Great Resignation’ of 2021? A study by MIT reported that 40% of American employees were already thinking about leaving their jobs in January of that year. Between April and September, more than 24 million employees left their jobs, an all-time high.

And what was the top predictor of employee attrition during that time? Toxic corporate culture, at 10.4%. Scroll through each one and see if you’ve experienced anything similar. For the most part, you likely have in some form.

Not getting paid a fair minimum wage isn’t even the worst part. Survey data published in a 2017 report by the Economic Policy Institute revealed that 2.4 billion employees in the United States lose $8 billion worth of salaries each year because of wage theft by their own employers. 

Salary issues cause resentment toward the employer, which destroys trust, productivity, and, ultimately, the overall working relationship between the employee and the company. It should go without saying, but it seems many people need a little reminding.

It would be reasonable to surmise that big-name companies comply with labor laws to avoid bad press that may tarnish their reputation. However, the harsh reality says otherwise. 

A 2023 report by Bloomberg Law revealed mounting accusations of violating numerous labor laws against coffee giant Starbucks. The company lost 16 out of 17 cases, eight involving alleged discrimination toward unionizing workers. 

According to the analysis of judge rulings, the company supposedly told employees who contemplated unionization that their employment conditions would be “up for grabs” or “start from zero.” Another Bloomberg report claimed that Starbucks “illegally” fired 17 union activists.

On Starbucks’ Standards of Business Conduct website, the company affirmed its commitment to labor laws, stating, “All partners are entitled to work in an environment that is free of harassment, bullying, and discrimination.” However, these accusations seem to show the opposite. 

While many of these examples show blatant workplace hostility and unjust treatment, the flip side is the “culture of niceness.” In this scenario, people put up a facade of feigned friendship. As a result, no one feels psychologically safe discussing their strengths and weaknesses.

As NYU psychology professor Tessa West explains, “There’s this false dichotomy of if you’re critical, that means you are toxic. Positive feedback? That’s what people want. But nice isn’t always better. Sometimes nice is a cop-out.” 

In this case, where destructive office culture isn’t outright, here are three of many telltale signs for the employee: constant feelings of being undervalued, the mere thought of work is exhausting, and the Sunday Scaries have become a norm. If so, you’re in a toxic work environment and should likely consider looking at outside opportunities.

But is resignation always the immediate answer? Other experts would tell you differently and suggest switching departments and working with a different team. Corporate psychologist Patricia Thompson spoke to Fast Company in 2018, stating, “Even in organizations where you’d say the culture is terrible, there are pockets where things are fine.”

This is where the lines between passion and logic blur; sometimes, the former will carry more weight. That passion may have also propelled you to enough success and brought you to a position of influence despite how stressful and toxic work can be. 

If you’re in such a predicament, Thompson advises asking yourself one important question: Is there room for advancement within the company that might allow you to influence the culture (or perhaps take you out of the environment you are in right now)? Answering this should provide clarity.

If you're an employee struggling financially, imagine seeing a message first thing on Monday morning saying you're not getting paid indefinitely. You're behind on rent, your credit card bills are mounting, and now, you don't know when the next paycheck will arrive. 

Unfortunately, wage violations are also common in the US. In 2022, Statista's research department reported 7,948 infractions involving employers failing to pay fair minimum wage. However, while many of these cases end up stagnant, others are huge wins for the employee. 

In 2021, the court ordered Texas-based software vendor Tyler Technologies to pay its employees more than $3 million as a settlement after facing a class-action lawsuit for improper salaries. In the suit, employees alleged that the company required extra working hours without overtime pay. All's well that ends well.

Instead of subjecting yourself to an unpleasant working experience, it would be helpful to see some warning signs before signing a contract. Recruiter/podcast host/LinkedIn influencer Joel Lalgee mentioned five red flags to look out for: poor communication, ghosting, endless rounds of interviews, repetitive questions, and untrained interviewers. 

Carta’s head of inclusion, equity, and impact, Mita Mallick, recently wrote a piece for Harvard Business Review, discussing this particular matter. She urges candidates to ask follow-up questions to clarify any concerns.

Here’s an example: if a recruiter says the company has a small team but offers an opportunity to “make an impact,” it could be a sign that they are understaffed and the employees may be overworked. Mallick then encourages asking about how the company budget has changed and whether or not it increased its workforce.

Now, it’s your turn, dear reader. We would love to hear about your workplace horror story. Have you or someone you know had similar experiences? Which of these photos do you relate to the most? Share them in the comments, and let’s begin a discussion about this very important topic!