Welcome to the 302nd episode of the award-winning Diverse Minds podcast! In this episode, I’m exploring why do HR Leaders stay silent when things get toxic?
From redundancies out of nowhere to poor management and increased bullying, traditional workplaces have become akin to the Wild West. Discover what truly defines toxic culture, why HR leaders often stay silent, and the radical preventative and investigative measures needed to create real change.
Listen to the episode
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In today’s show on Why Do HR Leaders Stay Silent When Things Get Toxic?
- 00:37 – Comedy meets real-life HR: reflections on “You Are All Resources A Work In Progress” by Emma Davies.
- 01:12 – Defining toxic workplace culture and what this means.
- 03:08 – Current pressures faced by employees in the workplace.
- 08:18 – Alarming statistics related to poor mental health their impact in the workplace.
- 09:02 – Why HR leaders stay silent in toxic environments.
- 11:03 – How HR leaders can fix toxic cultures.
Quotes on Why do HR Leaders Stay Silent When Things Get Toxic?
- Traditional workplaces have become very much akin to the Wild West!
- We can read something, but that doesn’t mean we can absorb deep tacit knowledge from one piece of information.
- Senior leaders are not God or a higher being. They are mere mortals like the rest of us.
- It’s very easy to say we have a zero-tolerance policy. Again, like the word toxic, what does it actually mean in practise?
- The problem is that if people bring in money, if they are good at collaborating, if they are big hitters in some way, they are exempt. And we see this all the time.
Resources for Why do HR Leaders Stay Silent When Things Get Toxic?
- Emma Davies Comedy Show You are All Resources
- Read Monaco Solicitors’ definition of toxic workplace culture
- Read my blog post: Speaking Out About Workplace Bullying
- Check out Siobhan O’Reilly’s blog: 10 Tips: How to Survive a Toxic Workplace
- Episode #300: 5 Things I learned from Careless People by Sarah Wynn Williams
- Episode #245: What is Psychological Safety at Work?
- Explore Rad HR – radical approaches to workplace culture and HR practices
- Episode 63: Anti-Bullying Initiatives That Work
- Episode 267: How to Handle Gatekeepers
- Episode 11: Bullying and Harassment in the Workplace: What You Can Do About It
- Join my Mailing List and receive a white paper on mental health and inclusion here
- Check out my TEDx talk: The Connection between Culture, Race and Mental Health
- Leave me a message on my SpeakPipe
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Remember to tune in next week, where I’ll bring you more insights on mental health and inclusion.





