For the foreseeable future, remote work is here to stay. If you work for a great, people-focused company, one that has navigated the pandemic in a supportive and expedient manner, then this shift may be a welcome change for you. Sure, transitioning from an in-office environment to a completely virtual one may have had its challenges, but you probably feel emboldened by the actions your organization’s leadership took and know they have your back no matter where you work from.

On the contrary, if your company’s culture is less than ideal, you may feel as if the tumultuous events of 2020 have exacerbated pre-existing issues and that something is off. If this is the case, you may be in an unhealthy work environment. And, given that the economy has taken a major hit, you may feel trapped and think that there are no other jobs out there for you at this time.

However, the reality is that plenty of companies are hiring. And if you work somewhere toxic, you should probably aim to find new employment. Because, to be honest, this problem will be difficult to solve by yourself. Figuring out what’s wrong and whether it’s something that can be changed will help you decide what your next move should be. 

Not sure if your work environment is toxic or not? Here are nine subtle (and not-so-subtle) signs.

1. You’re Being Micromanaged To The Point Of Losing Your Sense Of Autonomy. Having a boss that nitpicks everything you do will dismantle your confidence and diminish your ability to think for yourself. Ultimately, this is a control issue, and it kills performance and motivation. Unless your manager is aware of this behavior, willing to change it, and asking for regular feedback to help do so, this will be almost impossible to remedy.
2. Your Manager Or Others In Leadership Roles Are Manipulative, Not Supportive. If anyone ever makes you feel like you’re not good enough or implies that you’ll never find a better job than the one you have, all while under the pretense that they’re “trying to help,” they’re manipulating you. Frankly, this is an absolute deal-breaker. No one at your workplace—especially those who are supposed to guide you and help you grow—should ever make you feel less than.
3. There’s A Discrepancy Between What Leadership Says And What They Actually Do. When someone tells you something, you want to believe them. You want to trust that they’ll follow through on their word and that they have the entire organization’s best interests at heart. When their actions don’t match their words, it’s a blatant sign that they lack respect for their team, and that they are unable to grow and change. Trust me: If they aren’t committed to doing the internal work required to change deeply ingrained behavior patterns, they won’t change—no matter how often they say they will.
4. People Talk Behind Each Other’s Backs A Lot Instead Of Being Open and Honest. Embracing radical candor is hard, but if you’re truly invested in creating a culture where the employees and the business can thrive, then you get over the discomfort and do it. Allowing petty gossip and obscurity to fester is a major leadership failure.
5. Leadership Isn’t Fully Transparent About The Business’s Performance. Most likely it’s because they don’t trust their employees, which isn’t a good sign. At all. Knowing how the company is doing is key for all team members—not just so they can do their jobs well, but also so they aren’t blindsided if something suddenly goes downhill.
6. Getting Ahead Is More About Who You Know Than How You Perform. In a time when diversity and inclusion is so important (as it should have been for decades, and should always be going forward), if your company prioritizes factors other than performance when it comes to upward mobility, that’s a major red flag.
7. The Culture Promotes Working Harder Instead Of Smarter, And People Are Burning Out. It’s no fun to work somewhere where everyone feels stressed and depleted from their work, rather than energized. However, this is actually a fairly common problem. If it’s the only sign of toxicity, you may want to try to change it. The more you can voice your concerns to HR or to your leadership team, the better. But don’t stick around if you don’t see improvement within a few months.
8. There’s A Lack Of Empathy, Especially In Regards To The Current Crises We’re Navigating As A Country. The current events are a great opportunity for companies to show who they really are. If your organization’s leadership—or even just your manager—fails to  understand the harsh realities of our time and how these situations could affect their employees, that’s a huge character flaw. So many people are suffering right now, like parents of small or school-aged children and those who have loved ones who are sick or who work on the front lines. There must be flexibility and support. If there’s not, start planning your exit.
9. Emotional Outbursts, Yelling Or Being “Out Of Control” Are The Norm. Take this type of environment seriously and avoid it at all costs. Run—don’t walk—to your next job.