Managing toxic working relationships

IDEALLY, we all would want to work in a positive and healthy working environment, driven unequivocally by a crystalline organisational vision and mission; a flexible and conducive workplace; and good employee welfare with due recognition given for exemplary work performance.

However, regrettably there are some of us who unfortunately will be compelled to work in a less favourable workplace.

Experiencing toxic working relationships and the dull daily humdrum and negativity will sap all your initiative, passion and perseverance to optimally perform the required tasks, and where low morale will unsurprisingly lead to a situation where a high degree of absenteeism is the norm and where the turn-over rate is unduly high encouraging the fritting away of loyalty to the organization.

Oftentimes, working under duress is not an option. Even so, this is still not sufficient reason to shirk off from performing our duties professionally.

In all instances, one will still be held fully responsible for any and all actions and decisions one has made while holding the post and for the consequences and repercussions afterwards.

Even though there were evidence of coercion, threats and bullying done by your superior officer, top management of the organisation or even any third party involvement, you as the incumbent will still be made answerable and accountable to ensure that every commitment made by the organisation is fulfilled as is expected and specified.

In most circumstances; working under such stressful conditions and extreme duress will most certainly put you under unnecessary pressure with misgivings of guilt, especially if you are fully aware that the execution of your duties may result in harmful implications upon others.

Moreover, whatever actions that have been taken may be in direct conflict with your work ethics, conscience and personal values and principles.

Under these kinds of extraneous work conditions, you may be tempted to commit unlawful acts such as falsifying official documents, engaging in compromising acts in breach of trust, gross misconduct, delinquency and other related illegal wrongdoings.

As such, under such trying circumstances you may unnecessarily end up satisfying one party while creating discontent or dissatisfaction to the other party.

In such instances, one must therefore be sagacious, observant and vigilant at all times, particularly in ensuring that proper and relevant supporting documents and evidence are prepared for all eventualities.

In the event, you are instructed to do something that compromises procedures, conditions and work flow, it would be advisable for you to keep all the necessary records of the instructions given, in black and white, so that you will clearly be absolved of any wilful wrong-doing if an official due diligence is subsequently conducted.

Since we are both dispensable and transferable, we must always be aware clearly of what our duties, obligations and responsibilities are and to protect ourselves and our interests at all times.

Remember all the risks you take are your own.

A current so-called boss might coincidentally be terminated; and your right hand man might just die from a terminal disease and even your best friend or team-mate may leave you high and dry due to exceptional circumstances and the irresponsible senior who fraudulently instructed you to do "the magic thing" may conveniently misinterpret otherwise and black suddenly becomes white.

---

Maziatul Syima is an Administrative and Diplomatic (PTD) officer at a central agency in Putrajaya.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of Astro AWANI.