Workplace toxicity is not always someone screaming across the office.
Sometimes, it is the late-night WhatsApp, the endless “quick” task, or suddenly being left out of important meetings.
A TikToker recently highlighted 10 workplace behaviours that employees may have become way too used to, sparking discussion among commenters about what is actually considered “normal” at work.
When “Just One More Thing” Becomes Every Day
One of the biggest issues raised was after-hours work.
Getting messages late at night, during weekends or while on leave can quickly become routine, especially when ignoring them gets framed as being “not committed enough”.
The post also called out 14-hour workdays, where employees end up picking up the workload of colleagues who have left without extra pay or recognition.
One commenter said that whenever workers raise the issue, they are sometimes told the company is facing financial problems so everyone just has to “accept it”.
Then there is micromanagement: constant updates, monitoring online status and being expected to stay visibly available.
Basically, being online starts feeling like part of the job description.
Getting Pushed Out Without Being Told
The TikToker also called out portfolio stripping, where important projects slowly disappear, employees get left out of email threads and their work starts feeling less and less meaningful.
The idea is to make the job frustrating enough that the employee eventually decides to leave on their own.
Another red flag is project sabotage, like getting vague instructions, missing key information or having requirements suddenly changed after you have already submitted the work.
The post also pointed to social exclusion, where certain employees are left out of meetings, lunches or important conversations.
One commenter questioned why some workplaces resort to indirect or intimidating behaviour instead of simply being upfront and professional.
Fair question, honestly.
Commenters Are Sharing Their Own Experiences
The comments showed that these workplace experiences are definitely not uncommon.
One commenter said they would rather be their own boss than work for companies that seem to care little about employee wellbeing.
Another shared that they had seen colleagues receive help while they were treated differently.
The creator suggested that situations like these can sometimes come down to favouritism and advised employees to stay professional, do their work and keep an eye out for better opportunities.
Meanwhile, other commenters took a more humorous approach to setting boundaries.
One joked about simply telling the boss, “Sorry, got something to do at home” when asked to stay late.
The bigger conversation, however, is about where workers should draw the line.
Being flexible at work is one thing. Being expected to tolerate unhealthy behaviour just because “that’s how things are” is another.
See the post here:
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