These days graduates are more inclined to take a lower paying job at a company with great values, work culture, and excellent leadership over a job that pays well but is lacking in these respects. That being said, how do you actually tell if a company is really upholding these values, or just putting on the glitz when you’re interviewing to make a good impression? If you’re a potential job seeker, it’s important to know which red flags to look out for in the work environment, as they could end up saving you in the long run.

How to spot a toxic work environment

First of all, company perks like free lunches and ping-pong tables don’t necessarily indicate a good working culture—they’re just superficial aspects that have little to do with your long-term happiness. So, what will give you real insight regarding whether a company is actually a good fit for you? Try to play the stealth detective while you’re waiting for your interview—how are the employees interacting with each other? Are they in good spirits and relaxed or more rigid and impersonal? Are people excited or panicked? Neither is really good or bad, it just matters in terms of what you prefer the atmosphere of your workplace to be.

Now here’s one you might not have expected—does the office smell like food? Chances are, if an office smells like food there’s a leadership problem. Why? If people aren’t able to take a lunch break and leave their desk, there are some serious management issues brewing beneath the surface. Next to this, check out the bathroom—it can tell you a lot more than you think. Is it messy or dirty? If so, either the leadership doesn’t care about the staff’s comfort and wellbeing, or worse—the staff doesn’t care about each other’s wellbeing, which can be quite telling in regards to their working relationship. Piyush Patel, founder of the online training company Digital-Tutors and author of the upcoming book Lead Your Tribe, Love Your Work, adds “an empty toilet paper roll can indicate a culture of passing the buck and not taking responsibility for each other’s wellbeing.”

Next up—how fast is the hiring process? If it’s too quick they’re just using a body to fill a role and if it’s too slow it might indicate issues higher up—both are no good. So, what do you do if you’re still unsure? Ask them the tough questions – how often are employees fired, do people often leave on their own accord, do they care about their staff’s mental health, and if so, how do they make that a priority? What is staff moral like and is there a friendly working atmosphere? Though they could still try to sugar-coat things, it’s far less likely when faced with a direct question. And when all else fails? Trust your gut—if you feel that it isn’t a place you should be working, listen.

Read the full article here.

Like what you’re reading? Take a look at more top articles, trends and influencers by signing up to our newsletter—By getting to choose which topics interest you the most, you get the latest news delivered with ease: https://essentials.news/future-of-work/my-essentials