Aaddictively brutal’. That’s how most people who find themselves hooked to the hit HBO-television series Industry would describe the show, which has now returned for its third season. Seemingly centred around a group of relentlessly ambitious but entirely dysfunctional finance executives whose lives, careers and existence revolve around a prestigious London-based investment bank, the show touches on narratives that ring a little too uncomfortably close to home for many. Of these, the most prominent is workplace toxicity, a theme that has gained particular notoriety in recent times, especially after the tragic death of a Big Four employee who reportedly succumbed to relentless work pressure. But, dig a little deeper and you’ll find that the definition of what comprises workplace toxicity varies, depending on who you ask — while some may quote an overbearing boss or a crushing workload, others may describe it as a more deeply-seated dissatisfaction with how they’re treated or perceived at their workplace. 

Toxic or a new normal?

For Dr Brajesh Bajpai, who holds a coaching and mentoring doctorate, a toxic workplace is one where the performance or wellbeing of employees is impacted because of harassment, bullying or discrimination. “Today, the term ‘toxic workplace’ is used quite broadly and casually. While there are clearly defined parameters such as abusive behaviour, bullying, and physical or sexual misconduct that most people recognise as unhealthy, there are also individual and specific parameters ascribed as contributing to workplace toxicity. Growing awareness about international work cultures [he notes that while European countries have been prioritising work-life balance for several decades now, Indian employers and employees have only recently been introduced to the concept] as well as increasing conversations about mental health, combined with rapidly evolving work cultures and communication styles, have all contributed to workplace toxicity becoming an increasingly popular topic for discussion,” he observes.