
Spotting the Signs of a Toxic Workplace
02/12/25 • 27 min
Toxic workplace cultures are more common than you think—and the damage they cause goes beyond just the office walls, including harm to mental health, team dynamics, and productivity. Amira Barger, executive vice president of health communications at Edelman, discusses the effects of toxic workplace cultures, explores the red flags organizations should look out for, and highlights the importance of empathetic leadership.
Find the 2024 Civility Index and other resources on fostering civility in the workplace: https://www.shrm.org/topics-tools/topics/civility
Access the 2024 Global Workplace Culture Report in this episode’s paired article, It’s Likely You Have a Toxic Workplace. Now What?: https://www.shrm.org/topics-tools/flagships/all-things-work/you-likely-have-a-toxic-workplace-now-what
In an era where the workplace is constantly changing, All Things Work, brought to you by SHRM, serves as a beacon of knowledge for HR leadership and organizational decision-makers. Each week, host Anne Sparaco is joined by thought leaders and industry experts sharing their perspective on game-changing topics that are redefining the world of work.
Subscribe to the All Things Work newsletter to get the latest episodes, expert insights, and additional resources delivered straight to your inbox: https://shrm.co/fg444d---Explore SHRM’s all-new flagships. Content curated by experts. Created for you weekly. Each content journey features engaging podcasts, video, articles, and groundbreaking newsletters tailored to meet your unique needs in your organization and career. Learn More: https://shrm.co/coy63r
Rate/review All Things Work on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Toxic workplace cultures are more common than you think—and the damage they cause goes beyond just the office walls, including harm to mental health, team dynamics, and productivity. Amira Barger, executive vice president of health communications at Edelman, discusses the effects of toxic workplace cultures, explores the red flags organizations should look out for, and highlights the importance of empathetic leadership.
Find the 2024 Civility Index and other resources on fostering civility in the workplace: https://www.shrm.org/topics-tools/topics/civility
Access the 2024 Global Workplace Culture Report in this episode’s paired article, It’s Likely You Have a Toxic Workplace. Now What?: https://www.shrm.org/topics-tools/flagships/all-things-work/you-likely-have-a-toxic-workplace-now-what
In an era where the workplace is constantly changing, All Things Work, brought to you by SHRM, serves as a beacon of knowledge for HR leadership and organizational decision-makers. Each week, host Anne Sparaco is joined by thought leaders and industry experts sharing their perspective on game-changing topics that are redefining the world of work.
Subscribe to the All Things Work newsletter to get the latest episodes, expert insights, and additional resources delivered straight to your inbox: https://shrm.co/fg444d---Explore SHRM’s all-new flagships. Content curated by experts. Created for you weekly. Each content journey features engaging podcasts, video, articles, and groundbreaking newsletters tailored to meet your unique needs in your organization and career. Learn More: https://shrm.co/coy63r
Rate/review All Things Work on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Previous Episode

Gender Disparity, Workforce Integration, and DEI Executive Orders
Tamla Oates-Forney, the CEO of Linkage, a SHRM company, joins All Things Work to share a concerning statistic: Women now make up nearly half of the workforce and are the most educated group in the labor market—yet they’re not matriculating into leadership at the same rate as men. With new executive orders reshaping workplace policies, tune in for critical takeaways for how businesses can take a “same but different” approach to designing viable, holistic, talent optimization programs that address these disparities—and how to leverage tools like SHRM’s new BEAM framework to ensure inclusivity and compliance.
In an era where the workplace is constantly changing, All Things Work, brought to you by SHRM, serves as a beacon of knowledge for HR leadership and organizational decision-makers. Each week, host Anne Sparaco is joined by thought leaders and industry experts sharing their perspective on game-changing topics that are redefining the world of work.
Subscribe to the All Things Work newsletter to get the latest episodes, expert insights, and additional resources delivered straight to your inbox: https://shrm.co/fg444d---Explore SHRM’s all-new flagships.Content curated by experts. Created for you weekly.Each content journey features engaging podcasts, video, articles, and groundbreaking newsletters tailored to meet your unique needs in your organization and career.Learn More: https://shrm.co/coy63r
Rate/review All Things Work on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Next Episode

How to Communicate Employee Benefits—and Leverage Them for Engagement
Keren Maldonado, SHRM’s own director, total rewards, unpacks the nuanced art of communicating your organization’s benefit offerings in ways that are inclusive, easily accessible, and relevant to the diverse needs of your workforce. Maldonado shares practical tips for making benefits communication clear and engaging, while emphasizing how tailored strategies can enhance employee recruitment and retention.
Subscribe to the All Things Work newsletter to get the latest episodes, expert insights, and additional resources delivered straight to your inbox: https://shrm.co/fg444d---Explore SHRM’s all-new flagships. Content curated by experts. Created for you weekly. Each content journey features engaging podcasts, video, articles, and groundbreaking newsletters tailored to meet your unique needs in your organization and career. Learn More: https://shrm.co/coy63r
Rate/review All Things Work on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
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