Is It a Toxic Work Environment? Consider This Double-Sided Red Flag Before You Take the Job. Ask this question during the interview process. The answer might tell you all you need to know.
By Amanda Breen Edited by Jessica Thomas
Key Takeaways
- Most job-seekers will consider compensation and benefits before accepting an offer.
- The interview stage is an opportunity to learn another detail that could inform your decision.
When you receive a job offer, it's important to consider a range of factors to determine whether or not the role is a good fit.
Top considerations might include base pay, benefits package, working hours, remote versus in-office arrangements, job title, networking opportunities and more.
Related: These Toxic Behaviors Are Employees' Biggest Frustrations — Is Your Company Guilty of Them?
However, one detail that might be overlooked, or at least not given as much weight as the rest, is how long employees tend to stick around.
High turnover rates can signal a less-than-ideal work environment. After compensation, HR professionals said that lacking career development and advancement and inadequate flexibility were among the top reasons employees left a job, according to a report from SHRM Research.
Unsustainable work expectations and uncaring and uninspiring leaders also contribute to turnover, the study found — both of which can be hallmarks of a toxic work environment.
Related: 15 Ways to Spot a Toxic Work Environment Before You Take the Job
If high turnover rates are bad, then companies with employees who have been loyal for a decade or more must be good places to work, right? Maybe not.
In a TikTok video posted last month, Courtney Elliott, Wharton MBA graduate and current doctoral student, shared her perspective on the situation: If everyone at a company has been there for less than six months or more than 10 years, it could be a red flag.
@courtneyelliottmgmt If it seems like people either really hate or really love working at the place you are interviewing, thats probably not a good thing #interviewing #management #fyp ♬ original sound - CourtneyElliottmgmt
"That to me signals that they only attract and keep a very specific type of personality, and it's just too risky to know if you're the type of personality that would work there or not," Elliott says.
According to Elliott, having a number of employees who remain between three and seven years can be a positive sign because it demonstrates that people aren't quitting or getting fired after a year.
Related: Do You Work for a Toxic Company? Here Are 4 Not-So-Obvious Signs to Watch Out For.
In a follow-up video, Elliott clarifies that having employees who stay 10 years or more isn't inherently bad, as long as the company is able to retain employees for that three-to-seven-year range too.
