Tech leaders are ignoring toxic behavior, say 43% of workers

Tech workers have had a tough year when it comes to workplace culture and job security. To make matters worse, some employees are claiming that their employers refuse to acknowledge the toxic behaviors they're having to endure on a daily basis. 

According to a recent survey of 1,000 employees working at U.S. tech companies, conducted by learning management system TalentLMS, 45% of employees who report toxic workplace cultures say that leadership is unaware, and 43% say leadership is willingly turning a blind eye to toxic behaviors within their organizations. Only 40% said their manager knows how to properly manage a team. 

"While it's challenging to pinpoint a single cause, several factors may contribute to this disconnect — both specific to the tech industry and more general in nature," says Christina Gialleli, Director of People Operations at TalentLMS. "Leaders may not be properly trained on identifying and handling toxic behaviors and, without this knowledge, they may struggle to recognize the signs of toxicity and handle them properly or understand the impact it has on employee well-being and overall company performance."

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Workers reported that the most prevalent toxic traits are the expectation to work longer hours or during weekends without additional pay, the lack of transparency and communication from management, and a general lack of courtesy. Forty-five percent of employees even said senior executives promote unhealthy competition among managers and employees, which has led to 46% of employees in the industry to suffer from workplace-related burnout.

Since the pandemic, symptoms of burnout have become relatively common in all workplaces. According to workplace insights platform Zippia, 89% of employees have reported suffering from it within the past year. But the culture within tech companies could be exacerbating the problem significantly, according to Gialleli. 

"The fast-paced and highly competitive nature of the tech industry can create an environment where achieving results often takes precedence over creating a healthy work environment," she says. "Companies may focus primarily on meeting business objectives and rapid growth, and neglect the importance of company culture and mental health. This can lead to leaders being unaware of the extent of toxicity within their organizations or turning a blind eye to behaviors that they may perceive as occasional." 

Workplace culture aside, the tech industry has also suffered from other stressors that could be contributing to a toxic environment. Forty-five percent of employees said the industry's recent layoffs — which affected 669 tech companies and about 193,098 staff, according to an official layoff tracker — intensified a climate of toxicity in tech companies. 

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"The massive layoffs that have occurred lately in the tech industry may have created an atmosphere of fear and job insecurity among employees," Gialleli says. "In some cases, where the layoffs are executed without transparent communication and support, the result may be a huge disconnect between employees and leadership, and a climate of distrust can hinder open and honest communication."

Gialleli encourages tech employers to be transparent and encourage open communication, which will help create a culture where employees feel safe speaking up about their concerns regarding toxic behaviors. She also recommends establishing multiple channels for feedback, such as regular check-ins and reporting mechanisms, so as to actively listen to employee feedback and have an accountability system for taking it seriously. 

"Failing to address toxicity undermines teamwork and collaboration among employees," she says. "When individuals feel unsafe or unsupported, they are less likely to collaborate, share ideas, or contribute to innovative initiatives. And when employees feel that their well-being and professional growth are compromised due to toxic behaviors, they are more likely to leave the organization."