A recent Harris Poll report from a poll of 1,233 U.S. workers shows 71% of workers have had a toxic boss at some point and 31% are currently working with one, according to Fast Company.
Some toxic leaders might not know their behavior is affecting employees so negatively. Respondents said the most common behaviors of toxic leaders are:
- Sets unreasonable expectations (51%)
- Gets too involved in the details of an employee’s job when it is not necessary (49%)
- Gives unfair preferential treatment to a certain team member (49%)
- Gives an impression of being unapproachable (49%)
- Does not give credit to team members when appropriate (48%)
- Takes credit for the ideas of others (45%)
- Engages in unprofessional behavior (such as inappropriate language) (45%)
- Assigns blame to others to protect themselves (43%)
- Discriminates against employees for specific characteristics (33%)
The effects of such behaviors are significant. According to the report, 71% of respondents have anxiety during the weekend about returning to work on Monday; 53% have had nightmares about their boss; and 41% have sought therapy because of a toxic boss.
Additionally, 66% of people with a toxic boss say they are actively job hunting, but most people need to stay in their job for financial reasons (72%) or because of convenient benefits (72%). Sixty-five percent cannot quit because they will lose their benefits, and 65% stay because they know finding a new job will be challenging.
