If you’ve ever had a toxic job before, chances are, you’ve heard some real corkers from the higher-ups.
Companies that are dysfunctional and downright terrible have a way of couching their toxicity in buzzwords and phrases that are meant to seem impressive and caring. You go into these positions full of hope, but it’s not long before you realise just what a mess this place is. Here are some of the biggest lies told at toxic companies and what they really mean — beware!
1. “We’re like a family here.”
Sure, it sounds warm and inviting, but it’s one of the biggest (and most common) red flags. In toxic companies, this is used to guilt you into working longer hours or accepting terrible treatment. It’s a manipulation tactic to make you feel obligated to prioritise work over your personal life. Real families respect boundaries and don’t exploit their members, just FYI.
2. “We work hard and play hard.”
This usually translates to “We expect you to work excessive hours, but we’ll occasionally throw a pizza party or happy hour to make up for it.” It’s a way of justifying an unhealthy work-life balance and high-stress environment.
3. “We need someone who’s a real go-getter.”
In a toxic company, this often means they’re looking for someone who will work around the clock without complaint. They want an employee who will prioritise work above all else, including their own well-being. It’s code for “We expect unpaid overtime and constant availability.”
4. “We’re looking for a rockstar/ninja/guru.”
These trendy job titles are often used to mask unrealistic expectations. They’re looking for someone to do the work of multiple people, likely for the salary of one. It’s a way of glamourising overwork and setting impossibly high standards.
5. “That’s just how things are done here.”
This is used to shut down questions or suggestions for improvement. It shows that they’re not interested in changing the status quo, and they certainly don’t do any critical thinking at the company. In a healthy workplace, processes should be open to scrutiny and improvement, not defended simply because “that’s how it’s always been done.”
6. “We need you to be a team player.”
While teamwork is important, in a toxic environment this phrase is often used to pressure you into taking on extra work or accepting unfair treatment. They’re basically implying that if you don’t agree to unreasonable demands, you’re letting the team down.
7. “We’re all about work-life integration here.”
It seems progressive enough, but this one often masks the expectation that work will bleed into all aspects of your life. It’s a way of justifying the erosion of boundaries between work and personal time. Expect emails long after you’ve clocked out — and a firm talking to if you don’t respond to them!
8. “We’re running lean and mean.”
Translation: “We’re understaffed and overworking our employees.” They’re trying to justify working on skeleton staff, far too few resources, and unrealistic workloads. It glorifies a stressful, overburdened work environment under the guise of efficiency.
9. “We offer unlimited holiday.”
While this sounds generous, in toxic companies it often means “We don’t track holiday, so you’ll feel guilty for taking any time off.” Without clear guidelines, employees often end up taking less time off than they would with a traditional holiday policy, weirdly enough. It’s a way for companies to appear generous while actually discouraging time off.
10. “We need you to be more flexible.”
In a healthy workplace, flexibility goes both ways. In a toxic environment, this usually means they expect you to be available at all hours and adapt to constantly changing demands, without reciprocating that flexibility when you need it. It’s code for “Your personal time isn’t really your own.”
11. “This is a great opportunity for exposure.”
This is often used when asking employees to take on extra work without additional compensation, as it exploits people’s desire for career advancement. In toxic companies, these “opportunities” rarely lead to actual career growth or fair compensation. It’s a way of getting more work out of you for free. Don’t be surprised when nothing bigger ever comes of it…
12. “We’re all about disruption here.”
While innovation is important, in toxic tech companies, this often translates to “We ignore regulations and ethical considerations in pursuit of growth.” It’s used to justify cutting corners or engaging in questionable practises under the guise of being “revolutionary”.
13. “We’re looking for someone who can wear many hats.”
This is another one that means “We want to hire one person to do the job of several people.” They’re disguising understaffing and unrealistic job expectations, but don’t fall for it. It’s good to be versatile, but this place clearly has a lack of clear role definition and a huge potential for burnout.
14. “We believe in radical candour.”
Honest feedback can be a good thing, but in toxic environments, this is often used to justify harsh or unprofessional communication. It’s an excuse for managers to be blunt or even rude without considering the impact of their words. It’s possible to say how you feel while still being respectful!
15. “This is a high-performance culture.”
In toxic companies, this often means “We expect constant overwork and will quickly discard anyone who can’t keep up.” It’s used to justify unrealistic expectations and a lack of work-life balance. A truly high-performing culture supports its employees and recognises that sustainable performance requires periods of rest and recovery.
16. “We’re all in this together.”
Often used during times of crisis or when asking for sacrifices from employees, this rings hollow in toxic companies where executives continue to receive bonuses while workers face pay cuts or redundancies. It’s a way of creating a false sense of unity to justify unfair treatment.
17. “We don’t micromanage here.”
This often means “We don’t provide clear direction or support, but we’ll criticise the results if they’re not what we wanted.” This way, they can avoid managerial responsibility while still maintaining control.
18. “We’re data-driven.”
While using data to inform decisions can work well, in toxic companies, this is often used to justify ignoring human factors or ethical considerations. It can be a way of avoiding responsibility for decisions by claiming they’re based purely on data, even when that data is cherry-picked or misinterpreted.
