Work Toxicity and Your Time

When I started out thinking about the concept for NTFTS (No Time For That Sh*T) as a book, I never thought it would be as far-reaching as it has. What started as thinking about the little things that can compound and get in the way of success every day, or the unplanned chaos that can throw a day off, has spiraled into conversations and awareness I never imagined. This week's topic that I have NO TIME FOR - Work-related toxicity. 

As I speak to people about the things they would love to just push out of their day and consider a complete waste of time, it amazes me how many people talk about work. By definition, the word "work" would lend one a fair assumption that when performing an act of work, it would, or at least should be. Be, well, produced. In so many cases, I have had conversations with peers, family, friends, and colleagues both above and below my level of education and status who report wasted time, effort, and interest in their daily work for some reason or another. How many times do we hear about "dreading Monday", "hump day," and "TGIF"? But has anyone stopped to think, is it merely the idea of having to work that is so dreadful, or is it something else?

Likely, any of us dreading Monday or the start of a shift knows precisely what we are dreading. Is it a specific person's attitude? Understaffed departments? Harassment? Poor working conditions? Lack of leadership, support, coaching, or are we being micromanaged? Is the company disorganized, or are there no change and idea-sharing platforms? Is nepotism and favoritism allowed? Is inequity ignored or tolerated? Are there passive-aggressive co-workers in the department, or worse, bullies in leadership roles? Is pay fair, enough, transparent? Are job roles clear and expectations reasonable?

Coming from someone who would stay late and come in early, leaving only when the job was done, it’s easy to see how employees with solid work ethics are easily burnt out or stretched thin in these environments. I would trick myself into believing that if I stayed late, catching up on the day's work, I wouldn't get behind tomorrow. Whatever could not be completed that day becomes the next day's work. An 8-hour or 12-hour workday is still an 8- or 12-hour workday and can only cover what can be fit in it. Staying at work late to finish doesn't magically mean that you "got it all done in one day". What it does mean is that you chose to sacrifice your sacred personal time, self-care time, or time that you could be investing in other things for personal or professional development. 

Toxic work environments are those that overtly or covertly commend extra hours, added assignments, and ignore the workloads of their staff. These toxic situations do not allow for free exchange of ideas and stifle progressive discussion when there are concerns. Toxicity breeds poor productivity and less satisfied staff, leading to poor outcomes (customer satisfaction or end product). Turnover is usually high, and training is typically unstandardized and mismanaged. When monitored over time, similar to a poison (or toxin), those that enter these environments come in healthy and slowly become "ill", demonstrating the signs and symptoms of the toxicity in the environment. 

So what does toxicity in the workplace have to do with your time? Well, your time can be controlled and compartmentalized in correlation to what makes you happy. Whether salaried or hourly, most employers, contracts, and labor terms include definitions of the workday/week. You can become familiar with these and the expectations of your role. It is possible to be an exemplary employee and exceed expectations within the hours of the workday. Once you know these expectations, start to say #NTFTS. Well, professionally, no. If you don't have time for that sh*t, simply professionally decline and commit to using your time for the things that make you happy. Here is how I have managed some of the sh*t I have been asked and committed to cleansing the toxins in my workplace (and personal life!):

Question: "Could you get that report to me by the end of the day? (I leave at 4 pm, and it’s 3:30 pm; the report would take about 2 hours)

Thought in my head: "I have NO time for that SH*T"

Response: "I can complete that report by 10 am tomorrow."

Question: "I'm going to need you to meet with customers from the northern region and let them know that their accounts will be changing to explain terms."

Thought in my head: "This is NOT my role and I have NO time for that SHI*T".

Response: "I would be willing to help facilitate getting this done. Since this is not my area of expertise, how can I assist in connecting the northern customers with the right person to explain this information to them?"

Question: "We are down a representative today. Could we work later or stay on a second shift?"

Thought in my head: "I have NO TIME FOR THAT SH*T".

Response: "I am sorry that the department is not adequately staffed. I have another commitment and am unable to stay. 

Your time is your way of maintaining control of your boundaries. Toxicity in the workplace can absorb time, well-being, and productivity. By making decisions about what actual time you will spend both at the workplace and on specific tasks, you can control the toxicity levels to some degree. If you don't have time for something, could you say so? If you don't have time for a task in the sense that your values or responsibility do not align with that ask, find a way to communicate that you don't have time for that sh*t because you have your actual job to do within the time you have to do it! Fitting this in simply is not possible. 

(*Disclaimer - Bobbi Rose is not a labor lawyer nor does she provide labor or workplace legal advice. Please seek professional legal counsel if you have questions about your legal workplace rights, roles, responsibilities, or laws governing your workplace.)