Surviving Workplace Toxicity

Course overview

Objectives Identify characteristics and behaviors that contribute to a toxic work environment Describe methods to navigate a toxic workplace and prevent yourself from developing toxic behaviors that may lead to burnout Content EMS is notorious for the high stress long hours and repeated exposure to trauma that leave an alarming number of burned out professionals in its wake. Whether you work for a private ambulance fire department or in a hospital setting burnout is a real and pervasive threat to the well being of any EMS provider. And where burnout is often found so is a toxic workplace. In this episode Steve Dan and Holly talk about their experiences in toxic environments or around toxic individuals. They discuss how easy it is to become part of the toxic culture and why that makes it crucial to recognize associated patterns of thoughts and behavior and rise above them. The team then walks through steps to prevent becoming entrenched in the thoughts and behaviors that lend themselves to toxicity. This episode provides an opportunity to reflect both on ones environment and to look inward to examine if there are aspects of toxicity that have crept into our thoughts and practices. It also gives helpful tools to self correct to preserve our mental health and support and improve our departments culture.