How a toxic workplace develops

I have been unfortunate enough to work in a number of workplaces that exhibit the characteristics of toxic work environments. This is due to the fact that I worked on a contract basis so saw plenty of varied workplaces. Fortunately, due to the contract style of work, I never had to stay there long but it was great to observe.

I believe organisational values is the key to creating healthy work environments; likewise, poor values at an organisational level becomes more apparent at an operational level. So how does a toxic workplace occur?

Management practices go a long way towards the work environment and this includes personal agendas and empire building. On-going personal conflicts tend to spill over into most workplace relationships with the stress enveloping all in the workplace.

The chaos principal applies in toxic work environments where apparent randomness related to chaotic and complex patterns exist with feedback loops and repetitive factors occur. Whilst this is a mathematical function, for those of us that aren't as competent at such an analytical level, we are still able to identify trends.

We have poor attendance in our workplace and this causes more stress, people have to pick up the work of those who are absent causing more resentment and conflict.

As a starting point, we have poor management practices that act as the genesis of all the causes of workplace conflict driven by personal agendas and empire building. Solve the management instigated stress and workplace culture improves remarkably quickly.