Can Your Toxic Workplace Be Someone Else’s Heaven?

This morning I taught a student who had been absent for two weeks. She said she had to miss my yoga class because she was busy with work matters.

After class, she shared more details: “I’m finally relieved to have submitted my resignation!” She looked tired but radiant. She explained that fortunately she had found a new job, and although this new position would reduce her income by 30%, she was still grateful because she wouldn’t have to work so hard into the early hours and weekends just to accompany her boss who only wanted company for conversation and dinner, while she was losing time with her children and husband. When her husband heard her complaints, he supported her decision to resign immediately.

Upon learning of her resignation, her boss told her to reconsider because she was about to be promoted, given a company car, a personal driver, special privileges, and more. But my student wasn’t tempted by these offers because she was already hurt by her boss’s harsh words, constant micromanaging, and threats of termination for even minor mistakes. Combined with working hours beyond what was humanly reasonable, all these pressured working conditions were finally cast aside by my student. I congratulated her this morning for having the courage to make that decision.

She also felt that her boss had a different life vision. While her boss prioritized (or got obsessed with?) wealth and power, my student was content to work normally while still being able to enjoy time with family while maintaining her physical and mental health through running and yoga. She constantly rejected any idea of promotion as she knew too well what might be sacrificed behind the C-level title.

My student’s story this morning reminded me of some moments of euphoria when receiving positions or job offers that seemed wow, financially tempting, but then I slowly regretted them because I had to sacrifice my health and life balance for work achievements that weren’t ultimately valued much.

In times like those, I also made the same decision as my yoga student: choosing to leave the organization. And that was a blessing, because I came to know that my life priorities weren’t about achievements in that place and that wasn’t a big problem. Not a failure. Because I understood well that my life priorities wouldn’t be achieved if I kept working there.

Does that mean the organization was entirely bad? It’s not that simple to judge because for others, the work environment there might be their dream. So, let them go through their process there. And at the same time, we also go through our process elsewhere. It’s a necessary ‘professional’ divorce that may lead us to an interesting journey.

So enjoy the ride! 😎