Why Do Toxic Workplaces Still Exist in 2024

We’re in 2024, surrounded by cutting-edge technology, and yet toxic work environments continue to thrive and affect millions of workers. How is it that despite the wealth of incident management apps at our disposal, harmful psychosocial workplace behaviors persist?

Here’s my theory: The reason toxic workplaces remain is that employees often endure poor treatment until it becomes unbearable. Why do they wait? Typically, it’s not just one or two isolated incidents that push someone over the edge, but a long series of minor issues—small slights, dismissive comments, or subtle signs of disrespect that accumulate over time.

These minor incidents are often too trivial to report on their own. A harsh tone here, a condescending glance there—each instance may seem insignificant, but together, they create a toxic environment. Unfortunately, because these micro-aggressions go undocumented, the behavior is never addressed, and the culture of toxicity continues to build and fester.

This is where proactive solutions come into play. At SpatzAI, we’re developing a toolkit designed to tackle these micro-conflicts or spats, as they arise, rather than letting them build up. By empowering team members to address issues immediately, we prevent these small problems from escalating into full-blown toxic environments. Instead of waiting for toxicity to become unbearable, we encourage immediate action, creating a healthier and more respectful workplace.

P.S. We don’t think that it is just about creating a “respectful culture“, as many psychological safety experts recommend. We believe it is more about directly and promptly addressing disrespectful behavior, in real time. By empowering individuals to address these issues head-on, we believe that we can prevent the slow build-up of toxicity and ensure a healthier, more productive work culture.