You know that feeling when you wake up Monday morning and your stomach immediately knots up at the thought of going to work?
When you find yourself making excuses to avoid team meetings or checking your phone anxiously even on weekends?
We’ve all been there. And it’s time we stopped normalizing toxic workplaces just because “at least we have a job.”
As African women, we’re often raised to endure, to be grateful, to never complain. But, there’s a difference between workplace challenges and a toxic environment that slowly chips away at your spirit, your confidence, and your potential.
Today, we’ll be sharing 6 toxic workplace signs because recognizing them is the first step to reclaiming your power.
Your Ideas Get Stolen
In toxic workplaces, women, especially women of color, experience this repeatedly. You bring up contributions but they are minimized, your expertise is questioned, and somehow your ideas mysteriously find their way into other people’s presentations. You start second-guessing yourself, speaking less in meetings, dimming your light.
Real talk:*If you consistently feel unheard despite bringing valuable insights to the table, that’s not imposter syndrome talking, that’s a systemic problem with your workplace culture.
The “Cultural Fit” Card Gets Played Against Your Authenticity
We’re looking for someone who’s more of a cultural fit,” they said after you didn’t get that promotion you were overqualified for. Meanwhile, the person who got it has half your experience but went to the same university as the hiring manager.
When workplaces talk about “cultural fit,” they often mean: “How closely do you mirror the existing (usually male, usually homogeneous) leadership?” Your natural hair becomes “unprofessional.” Your direct communication style is labeled “aggressive.” Your passion for your work is seen as “too intense.”
You find yourself code-switching so much that you barely recognize who you are at work. You’re exhausted from performing a version of yourself that feels acceptable to them.
Truth bomb:A healthy workplace celebrates diverse perspectives and creates space for authentic expression. If you’re constantly walking on eggshells about being yourself, that environment is toxic.
Growth Opportunities Have a Glass Ceiling with Your Name on It
In toxic workplaces, career advancement for women, particularly African women, follows an unspoken quota system. There’s always some excuse: “You need more experience” (even when you have more than your male colleagues), “It’s not the right time” (it never is), or the classic “We want to make sure you’re ready” (while promoting less qualified men).
You start noticing that the women in leadership positions are few and far between. The ones who made it seem to have had to sacrifice pieces of themselves to get there, becoming colder, more distant , as if warmth and leadership can’t coexist.
Reality check: If you’ve been consistently passed over despite strong performance, additional certifications, and clear readiness, the problem isn’t you.
Boundaries Are Treated Like Suggestions
Your phone buzzes at 11 PM on Sunday with a “quick question” from your manager. Your lunch break gets interrupted with “urgent” tasks that could have waited. Your annual leave request sits in limbo while others get approved instantly.
As African women, we’re often labeled as “strong”, a compliment that quickly becomes a burden. They pile on extra responsibilities because “you can handle it.” They expect you to be the office therapist, the cultural consultant, and the diversity spokesperson, all while doing your actual job.
You find yourself saying “yes” to everything because saying “no” might be seen as not being a “team player.” But here’s what I learned the hard way: boundaries aren’t selfish; they’re essential for your sanity and success.
Wake-up call: A workplace that consistently disrespects your time, energy, and personal life doesn’t respect you as a person.
Microaggressions Are the Daily Special
“You’re so articulate for someone from…” “Can you speak for all African women on this issue?” “Your English is so good!” “You’re not like other Black women, you’re different.”
These comments come wrapped in smiles, delivered as compliments, but they leave you feeling othered, tokenized, and exhausted. In toxic workplaces, these microaggressions aren’t occasional slip-ups, they’re part of the atmosphere you breathe daily.
You start documenting incidents, replaying conversations in your head, wondering if you’re being “too sensitive.” You begin to dread coffee chats and team lunches because you never know what comment will come next.
Hard truth: Microaggressions in the workplace aren’t character-building exercises. They’re death by a thousand cuts to your professional confidence and mental health.
Your Wellness Isn’t Just Neglected, It’s Actively Undermined
The final and most dangerous sign: your workplace doesn’t just ignore your wellbeing; it actively works against it. Unrealistic deadlines become the norm. Mental health days are met with eye rolls. Burnout is worn like a badge of honor.
You notice colleagues having breakdowns in bathroom stalls. People boast about working through sickness. The company talks about “work-life balance” in emails while creating policies that make it impossible.
As African women, we’re often expected to be resilient beyond reason. But resilience isn’t about enduring toxic situations, it’s about having the wisdom to know when to walk away.
Bottom line: Your mental, physical, and emotional health should never be the price you pay for a paycheck.
If you’re reading this and recognizing your workplace in these stories, first know this: You are not crazy. You are not imagining things. Your experiences are valid.
Documenting incidents, building alliances with supportive colleagues, and seeking mentorship can help. But sometimes, and I know this is scary, sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is plan your exit strategy.
You deserve to work in an environment that sees your value, respects your boundaries, and creates space for your authentic self to thrive. You deserve leadership opportunities that match your qualifications and potential. You deserve peace of mind when you clock out.
The world needs what you bring to the table, your perspective, your innovation, your leadership. Don’t let a toxic workplace convince you otherwise.
Remember: You’re not just building a career; you’re paving the way for the next generation of African women leaders. And that path shouldn’t be paved with your suffering.
What toxic workplace signs have you experienced? Share your story in the comments, let’s support each other through this journey.
