Let’s be honest – we’ve all heard horror stories about toxic workplaces. Places where employees are treated like cogs in a machine, pushed to the brink and easily replaced the moment they burn out.
Maybe you’ve worked somewhere like that. Maybe you’re there now. But the truth is, this approach doesn’t just harm people, it quietly eats away at the success of the business too.
Here’s the thing. People aren’t machines. They’re human beings with needs, emotions, lives outside of work and potential that only shines when they feel seen and supported.
Yet in some workplaces, there’s still this outdated belief that people should be endlessly productive, constantly available and able to switch off their feelings at the door. If they can’t? Replace them. Simple, right? Not quite.
Burnout is expensive
Pushing people past their limits might deliver short-term results. But long-term? It’s a recipe for burnout. Tired, stressed, and disengaged employees aren’t just unhappy, they’re less productive, more likely to take time off sick and far more likely to quit.
Replacing them isn’t cheap either. Recruitment takes time, training takes money and all the experience and knowledge that person built up? That walks out the door with them.
Morale drops = so does performance
People talk. If they see their colleagues being treated poorly or pushed out for struggling, it creates fear and mistrust.
Morale plummets. And when people don’t feel safe, they don’t take risks, offer ideas or go the extra mile.
Creativity dries up. Collaboration suffers. And instead of a thriving team, you’re left with people doing the bare minimum just to get through the day.
Reputation takes a hit
It’s easier than ever for employees to speak out about toxic environments and people are listening. Reviews on sites like Glassdoor can shape how top talent sees your business. A reputation for chewing people up and spitting them out will put off the best candidates. Not to mention potential partners and clients.
Investing in your people isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s smart business.
You lose out on potential
When you treat someone as disposable, you miss out on everything they could bring to the table. Their creativity, their perspective, their loyalty. People do their best work when they feel valued, not when they’re scared of losing their job.
The businesses that thrive are the ones where people feel empowered. Where mistakes are part of learning, not a reason to be punished. Where wellbeing isn’t just a phrase, but a genuine priority.
What’s the alternative?
It starts with a mindset shift. People are not robots. They have good days and bad days. They have families, health issues, ambitions and fears. When you acknowledge that, and support them as whole humans, you build something far stronger than a team of overworked individuals.
You create loyalty. You build a culture of trust. And you attract people who want to grow with you, not escape from you.
The bottom line
Treating employees like machines might feel efficient on the surface. But underneath, it’s costly. Not just financially, but culturally. It damages trust, wellbeing and long-term success.
The future of work is human. Let’s make space for people to thrive, not just survive.
