Hiring decisions are rarely easy. While someone may come off as the ideal candidate during rounds of interviews, it’s impossible to know how they will do once thrown into a real work environment. Unfortunately, when it turns out you’ve made a poor hiring decision, that employee’s effects on your workplace as a whole can be exponential. Learn more about the consequences of hiring a toxic worker in today’s blog.
The High Costs of Hiring a Toxic Worker
What is a toxic worker and why is it so important to avoid them?
A recent report published by the Harvard Business Review studied the impacts that toxic workers had on their companies as a whole. The paper defined a toxic worker as someone whom, despite being productive and talented, bogs down the organization by engaging in negative behaviors that violate workplace policies. These behaviors could include committing fraud, sexual harassment, and other terminable offenses.
The report found that it was worth around $12,500 in turnover costs to avoid a toxic worker. When other ancillary costs–such as low office morale, litigation fees, unhappy customers, and regulatory fines—are factored in, the true price of a toxic worker could be exponentially more than that total.
How do I avoid hiring a toxic worker in the first place?
Certain personality traits can be indicators of a toxic worker, the study found. Those who are narcissistic, self-centered, overly confident, productive, and staunchly rule-abiding are most likely to become toxic. The best way to avoid bringing on a toxic worker is to ensure that a prospective hire’s core values align with your company and allow that to weigh more heavily than productivity alone. While the ability to get the job done efficiently is important, it’s much better in the long run to hire someone who may complete their work a little more slowly but will not lead to complications for your company in the future. For more insight into effective staffing practices, tune into our podcast with Wanda Smith of Symphony Placements.
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