Over two years, I endured a toxic work environment defined by a profit-over-people mindset, poor leadership, neglected safety, and zero support for career growth, leaving myself and my team feeling undervalued, unsupported, and demoralised.The good thingsDespite my overall negative experience, there were some positive aspects during my two years at the company. The team included a few genuinely talented and supportive colleagues who made challenging days more manageable. I gained valuable experience that strengthened my resilience and clarified my professional values.
The challengesDuring my two years at the company, I experienced a frustrating environment driven by a “profit before people” mindset. Employee well-being, development, and safety were constantly overlooked in favour of financial targets. Career progression was non-existent, with advancement often based on favouritism or attrition, not merit. Leadership from General Managers and Laboratory Managers was lacking as they avoided accountability, especially regarding safety, creating a stressful and unsafe workplace. Managers were disengaged, communication was poor, and staff lacked support. This led to low morale, mistrust, and a culture where feedback was ignored. Ultimately, the company valued output over people, stifling growth and motivation.