To ask for your help with a tricky work conversation?

[nanbread]

Morale has become quite low where I work recently; people have huge workloads, and the leadership team is stressed and showing it, talking to many (but noticeably not all) staff members in an unacceptably rude way.

Staff are struggling and I know at least some are looking for new jobs.

This may sound normal to some of you but treating each other with kindness is meant to be important to the company and they are at-risk of losing some valuable members of staff.

I care about the people I work with and the company, and I want to talk to the leadership team about the toxic work environment (that they have ultimately created), to address the way people are being spoken to and to restore kindness and enjoyment, before it's too late.

How do I do this constructively, ie get them to change without upsetting the leadership team too much and ruining my own career to boot?

Bump (admittedly not a very exciting post!)

Have you got a HR department or person you could speak to as a mediary instead of going directly to the leadership team? Although it does sound a horrid time for you, a lot of senior teams (especially those causing the problem) probably wouldn't take it well to hear constructive criticism. Not to defend them but it may be that the business is doing poorly or that something dramatic is going on in the background. They might be looking for reasons to downsize or cut costs and you don't want to be the sacrificial lamb and put yourself in the spotlight.

Who are you in relation to the leadership team and general staff?

Could you suggest that you have noticed morale seems low generally - but rather than come up with a list of criticisms, offer to collate some anonymous feedback, which you can then give to them as a presentation, along with constructive suggestions to address the problems?

If you work where I do HR won't care, management will care even less and staff will leave.

I wonder about saying something about speaking too abruptly and not appreciatively enough to junior staff. "Not singling anyone out" but however stressed you are, still need to be courteous to keep morale up.

I agree I think we need to know more about your standing with LT?

FWIW I have been through this a few times and I think there are times when LT do care but just don’t want to hear any more negativity. Sometimes they just can’t do anything and are trying to get through it themselves

I don't think there's much chance of change. I'd just look for a new role.

How big is the company? Always find honesty is powerful in these situations. An all staff email from the leadership team saying we appreciate all your hard work, let’s get the energy back, drinks on us on Friday. Then they have to take action on how they will help people who are overworked

I would depend on your relationship with members of the SLT.
The likely hood is that if the SLT are only suddenly behaving in this manner, the company is not performing very well at all and they are feeling the pressure and stress.

That is no excuse to talk to people in a rude way, it is completely unacceptable and unprofessional. You most certainly do not gain or maintain respect by being rude, it shows a fault in your leadership skills ( and personality )

If you are close to a member of the SLT or one of their PAs, then maybe have a quiet chat, if not, I would probably not raise it with them directly but maybe speak to HR. Depending on the structure HR are likely to relay this to SLT.

You sound nice.
If you're (understandably) worried on it coming back on you, there is always the anonymous route.
Type something up in Microsoft Word but don't add your name at the bottom, put it in an envelope and leave it where it will be found by senior management eg their desk or if needed post it to them.

Thanks for your replies

To answer a few questions:

I can't talk to HR for reasons I won't go into here.

The business is doing ok, pretty sure that they aren't planning to lay anyone off.

I'm one of the most senior and longstanding members of staff not on the leadership team, team members are coming to me upset at what's happening and I'm subject to it too, hence my involvement. It's a relatively small co.

Anonymous feedback may be a good solution, thanks for the suggestion.

I'm not sure what a constructive solution to "talking to people like shit" would be though!

You need specific examples and solution suggestions. Eg 'when management do (sp ecific example) it can make some people feel like.. This is important to the company because... Can I suggest that instead we do... Because...'

Be prepared for them to blame you for the lack of morale. In which case you explain that you see it coming from the top down (specific example)

This sounds horribly familiar, I wonder if I work with you?!

More constructively, are there any employee forums/ staff surveys/ supportive members of the leadership team you can approach? I would raise the low morale without laying any specific blame if possible. That is, unless there is someone who's behaviour is tipping over into the realm of bullying?

I'm not sure what a constructive solution to "talking to people like shit" would be though!

If you can collate some examples, it might make it easier. It could come down to saying 'please' and 'thank you' more often, or using a quieter tone of voice, or listening to people properly, or having conversations that involve negative feedback in private.

@CheeseFace I doubt it, think it's a very common problem sadly!

Sounds exactly like the school I used to work at. Sorry I have no advice, but I no longer work there anymore. People left in droves.

talking to many (but noticeably not all) staff members in an unacceptably rude way

The cruelty is the point

Is it tesco? If so you're fighting a losing battle.

Is there some opportunity for some leadership training across the organisation, have a read about emotional intellgience and compassionate leadrship. If all levels of the team are signed up to improving culture it can change. If you have an appraisal and feel brave enough speak up, they wil start to loose staff soon and that soon has a bigger impact on culture.

OP why is it so important to you? Is it because you feel it’s intolerable?

The thing is, whatever a company says about caring, it’s all shite, so you have to find a way to protect yourself, or leave.

If you are on a brilliant deal that you can’t get elsewhere, I’d be especially careful. Everyone in senior management knows morale is low. Not only do they not give a shit, they might have some deliberate strategy to shift people.

Having exactly the same issues where I work, but any suggestions on how to improve things fall on deaf ears. Senior Managers are just there picking up their big salaries and we are left to like it or lump it really.

What about and opening gambit

“What are you going to do about the recruitment crisis?” Then when they ask you wtf?! You can say, “if you’re going to keep on with this toxic work atmosphere then you’re facing a mass exodus. Just giving you a heads up.”

TBH the mottos in my company are

"No good deed goes unpunished" and
"All messengers will be shot"

so, I would just nod with co-workers about how shite it is, whilst either putting up with it myself, or finding another job.

I only have private sector experience - but, generally, work is not like school and the right thing does not always happen.

How about pinpointing the most approachable/reasonable of the leadership.

Look, this is tricky for me to say, but a number of people have independently said to me they are unhappy with xyz. I feel it is important for you to know as this has always been a happy team but that seems to be going. I am concerned that some valued people may start resigning unless things can be rebalanced.