Denise Shen, Director of Human Resources, discusses how to handle workplace negativity. (February 2024)
We’ve all heard the saying “one bad apple can ruin the bunch”. This popular phrase refers to a situation in which one person's negative demeanor or behavior can affect an entire group of people, influencing them to have a similar negative attitude or to engage in the same behavior.
Workplace negativity can adversely affect a company in many ways. It can become a major issue when it starts to affect other employees and a toxic workplace environment is not fun or healthy for employees, nor is it good for your company. It can come in many different forms as well; it can evolve from gossiping or rumors, lack of trust, or even personal conflicts between two employees. If workplace negativity is not managed properly it can affect employee engagement, productivity, and retention. Additionally, it can really affect your company’s reputation and success.
A Forbes article notes that “The days of gathering around the water cooler have moved online, adding another challenge as people can hide behind screens and think less about the impact of their words and actions”.
Minimizing workplace negativity should be a priority and here are some simple tips to help you battle negativity and hopefully avoid it in the future.
Start with yourself - Do you find yourself complaining a lot at work, or displaying a “glass half-empty” attitude much of the time? It can be tough to stay positive when people around you are constantly negative, but you’re not going to change anyone else’s attitude unless you can manage your own.
Recognize when it happens - Negative employees will often say things like, "we've tried that before," "that will never work," or "that's not possible." Negativity is everywhere today; at work, at home, in politics, and social media. It’s important to be able to identify it and address it as it is happening.
Deal with real problems - Are there continual complaints about something that’s actually a problem? While it can be irritating to hear employees complaining about what seems like a minor issue, if something is affecting their work or morale, it’s important to address it and take steps to work together towards a mutual understanding or solution.
Confront negative employees privately - If you notice a specific employee who is directly impacting the workplace environment or other employees in a negative way, it’s important that you set up a meeting with them in private to address the situation. A one on one is the best way to try to understand what is motivating them to behave in such a way.
Promote a positive, healthy workplace - By ensuring employees are happy, you reduce employee turnover, reduce negativity, increase productivity, and increase employee morale and engagement. Make sure that your company culture includes work-life balance, a collaboration of ideas between employees and management without fear of criticism, and reasonable policies for time off. The benefits of a positive workplace are endless, both for your employees and your company.
Remember, one person can’t make a team, but it only takes one person to break a team!
