More and more employees are experiencing toxic behaviour from a manager at work. Today 1 in 10 Belgian workers has an extremely controlling or ‘micromanager’ as a boss, figures from Securex, a company that checks workers’ welfare at work, and Leuven University show. When a manager displays toxic behaviour or simply adopts an excessively wait-and-see approach, employees are also more likely to feel they are a victim of transgressive behaviour.
In 2021, 5.5 percent of workers said they felt they had a boss who was very controlling or who micromanaged them. Today 9.3 percent of Belgian workers claim they are having to deal with toxic behaviour from a supervisor.
"We notice that in recent years companies have been hit by inflation and are struggling with financial challenges," says Heidi Verlinden of HR service provider Securex. "Because of pressure to keep the company afloat, management sets very high goals that focus only on results and not on employee well-being."
To meet high goals, managers are more likely to pass on the pressure they feel to their employees. "The survey shows that it is often a combination. The fact that you feel you have to do your very best for your supervisor is not strange in itself, but if you feel you are punished as soon as things don't go quite the way your supervisor had in mind, it becomes more problematic."
The figures show that blue-collar workers are more likely to say they have a toxic boss than white-collar workers. According to Securex, the ability to homework can provide a buffer against toxic behaviour. Staff who are allowed to work from home are less likely to report toxic leadership in the company where they work.
Toxic leadership and transgressive behaviour
Toxic leadership can cause employees to experience burnout more quickly, previous research had already shown. The present research by Securex and Leuven University indicates that employees under toxic leadership are more likely to feel they are a victim of transgressive behaviour at their place of work.
43.5 percent of employees who say they have an overly controlling boss feel they are a victim of transgressive behaviour. This behaviour primarily manifests itself as verbal or physical aggression, discrimination or harassment at the workplace.
Not only were supervisors identified as the perpetrator (26.1 percent), but co-workers and externals too were accused of transgressive behaviour.
Passive leadership leads to even more transgressive behaviour
It’s not just managers who adopt a toxic leadership style that throw up problems; employees also don't always feel comfortable with managers who adopt an excessively wait-and-see style approach. 13.4 percent of workers in Belgium feel that their leader is very passive.
Of these, more than half (53.3 percent) report feeling they are a victim of transgressive behaviour at work. In more than 30 percent of cases, the supervisor was referred to as the cause, while in 22 percent of cases colleagues or externals were identified.
Passive leadership is even more responsible for workers feeling that transgressive behaviour by managers, colleagues and externals is taking place. "Passive bosses often don't set rules of conduct and just let things run their course, which also leaves more room for transgressive behaviour," Ms Verlinden explains.
Support autonomy but also provide structure
So how can a boss best support his staff? "By supporting autonomy," Ms Verlinden offers as a first tip. "By allowing employees to choose how to achieve their goals and by providing sufficient feedback, they will be more motivated and productive."
Providing structure is also important for many employees. Not every employee needs it to a larger extent, but structure can also reduce transgressive behaviour. "By establishing rules of conduct, employees will feel psychologically safer and colleagues will also dare to come forward more quickly if they see something happening," Ms Verlinden concludes.