“SOME people don’t leave jobs. They leave toxic work cultures,” is a memorable quote that I came across one day on my Facebook timeline. When I was younger, I always thought it was the other way around—that people simply leave jobs because they’re unproductive, lazy or bored. In truth, that’s not always the case. Some work environments require you to use every last brain cell to stay sane while you’re working. Not only is it unhealthy to you, but it’s also inhumane. Unfortunately, many workers are forced to believe or accept that this is how things should be. Many employees were introduced to the idea of having things done this way and they cannot question it. The truth is, most of the so-called company policies aren’t even written policies sometimes. They’re just reinforced tactics to ensure workers “stay in line”.

If you Google what a toxic or mentally unstable work environment is and it basically describes your place of employment—stay far from it as soon as possible. You may try to change such a place, lobby for change even, but most of the time—you’ll be on your own because other workers are afraid to speak up due to victimisation. Oftentimes, these places change you, not the other way around. As such, it’s better to leave such an environment altogether—at least, that’s how I personally feel. If you find yourself always venting about work, feeling very irritable and burned out constantly, questioning your abilities and skillsets, feeling tension between yourself/other workers and management, feeling as if you’re walking on eggshells or you even get very emotional just by thinking of the environment you work in—chances are you work in a very tense, stressful, “toxic” environment.

You shouldn’t have to do extra work to prove your worth or skill set. You should feel as if you’re an asset, not as an incompetent liability to anybody you work for. You shouldn’t only be acknowledged or credited for work when things are done wrongly—rewards should also be given in any way imaginable. The number one reason why most people stay is because they have families to feed and they also believe they “can’t do better”. Trust me when I say, there is better. There are lots of places in Guyana that are now practising better work ethics including mental health on their agenda for their employees. You simply have to look and learn what’s right for you. If you’re still “stuck” in a toxic work environment for a specific reason or reasons—you can try to still be positive and try not to let your environment change you into the negativity that it projects.

The best advice I was given during my time at university was to leave work at work, and never allow it to cross over your gate. As difficult as it might be, don’t let your work-related issues affect what goes on in your personal life, whether it be the difficult customers you’ve had or the messy supervision you’ve experienced. If you have a space to call your own— call it your safe space and decorate it with positive messages if possible as reminders to yourself on bad days. If you have work besties who share similar views or opinions, stick with them. The group of you can be each other’s support system or friend to lean on during difficult times. You can implement these strategies as you scheme your exit plan as soon as possible.

At the end of the day, I urge you all to do what’s best for you. Sometimes, there’s no escaping 100 per cent of the negativity—no matter where you go. Nonetheless, your mental health should be your priority at all times. Don’t lose your sense of self over a job that requires you to change the positive outlook you have on life, no amount of money in the work is worth that much of a sacrifice.