Business
15 Warning Signs to Identify a Toxic Work Environment Before Taking a Job
According to Gallup, 85% of the world’s one billion full-time employees are unhappy at work.
While there are a number of reasons that contribute towards job dissatisfaction, a toxic work environment can have a significant impact on an employee’s performance, not to mention their physical and mental health.
But identifying red flags before accepting a job offer can be difficult; companies often sell themselves as a model workplace, when in reality, their inner workings are hugely problematic.
How to Identify a Toxic Work Environment
Today’s graphic comes to us from resume.io and it illustrates the 15 warning signs to look out for before, during, and after a job interview.
Lifting the Corporate Veil
A toxic work environment diminishes productivity by breeding a culture of discrimination, disorganization, bullying, and may even be fueled by unethical or selfish motivations.
Luckily, prospective employees can avoid 40 hours of torment a week by probing the company’s culture before signing on the dotted line. Here is a list of things to look out for:
Before the Interview
For better or worse, first impressions matter. Although excitement levels may be high, it’s important to pay attention to potential missteps, even before the interview starts.
- Vague job description: There should be clarity around the roles and responsibilities associated with the job, even if it is a new role in the company.
- Negative reviews on Glassdoor: Company review platforms are quickly becoming an indispensable tool for jobseekers who are interested in learning more about previous and current employees’ experiences.
- It took a long time to arrange an interview: Companies should show respect for the interviewee by getting back to them in a timely manner.
- Forgetting interviews: This could suggest that either the company has serious communication issues, or they do not prioritize interviewing potential employees.
- The interview starts late: Punctuality is not only expected from the person being interviewed, the interviewer should also be on time.
During the Interview
Adrenaline may be pumping when the interviewee is in the hot seat, but it’s crucial that they take stock of how the interviewers are conducting themselves.
- Unprepared interviewers: If the interview lacks structure, this could signal a disorganized team and a lack of clear expectations for the role.
- No interest in listening: Both parties need to put their best foot forward in an interview, to make sure that the interviewee’s personality and skill set aligns with the company, and vice versa.
- Authoritarian interviewer: This may indicate a lack of respect for employees.
- Inability to communicate company values: If company values are embodied by employees, then they should be top of mind and easily communicated.
- Questions are skimmed over: Companies should be transparent and be willing to provide comprehensive answers to any questions an interviewee may have.
After the Interview
In addition to assessing their own performance, interviewees should give careful consideration to how the entire interview experience went.
- Short interview: Either the company has already chosen another candidate, or they are desperate to fill the role as quickly as possible.
- Quiet workspace: A lack of teamwork or fearful employees could be the culprit for a silent office.
- No office tour: Companies should always give prospective employees a glimpse into what their day-to-day could look like by showing them around and introducing them to the team.
- Job offer was given on the day of the interview: The company could be trying to restrict the interviewee doing further research into the company, or simply filling the role as quickly as possible.
- Delayed decision-making: Failing to get back to someone who has done an interview shows a lack of respect for their time or disorganization on the company’s end.
It’s also worth mentioning that mistakes can be made by anyone, so it is perhaps not helpful to scrutinize companies for small errors in judgement when most of the experience has been positive.
Regardless, if there are any looming uncertainties, it is up to the person being interviewed to ask.
Finding the Courage to Ask Questions
When it comes to interviews, questioning the culture of the company is just as important as questioning the interviewee on their knowledge and skills.
“He who asks a question may be a fool for five minutes. He who does not ask questions, remains a fool forever.”
—Ancient Chinese proverb
Switching jobs is rarely an easy process, especially when jobseekers have come up against unforeseen challenges as a result of COVID-19.
But it is more important than ever for people to do their due diligence, and be brave enough to ask tough questions. Otherwise, they may have to repeat the cycle all over again—much sooner than they would have thought.
Real Estate
Modular Housing vs. Traditional Housing: How Do They Compare?
Modular housing can be completed 40% faster and costs 10-25% less than traditional construction methods. Is the future of housing modular?


Modular Housing vs. Traditional Housing: How Do They Compare?
The U.S. needs new houses. Lots of them.
With housing prices nearing six times annual incomes, increasing supply is a must if there is any hope of bringing down house prices, and modular housing could be the solution.
This visualization is the third and final piece of the Reimagining Home Series from our sponsor Boxabl, where we compare the benefits of modular housing against traditional construction methods. Let’s start with the basics.
What Is Modular Housing?
Modular homes are built offsite, in standardized sections, usually in a factory setting. They are then transported to the building site and assembled on a waiting foundation. Once complete, modular homes look just like any other house.
Modular housing is not the same as manufactured homes, which are also sometimes called mobile homes. Like modular housing, manufactured homes are built offsite in a factory, but the key difference is that they can be moved after being assembled. Modular homes aren’t meant to be moved again after final assembly.
6 Ways Modular Homes Differ to Traditional Homes
The following benefits are based on information from the Modular Home Building Association, as well as a paper given at the 2020 Creative Construction e-Conference by members of the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Texas at Arlington.
1. Speed of Construction
Because of the piecemeal nature of modular construction, many building activities can be done simultaneously, greatly reducing the overall time of completion. At the same time, because construction happens indoors, weather delays aren’t an issue. Overall, a modular housing project can be completed in 40% less time than using traditional building construction methods.
2. Cost Effectiveness
Standardization of design, less transportation of materials onsite, and the reduced impact of weather are some of the reasons that modular housing can be much cheaper than traditional building methods. According to the authors of the paper, there was a 10-25% decrease in construction costs for modular housing, again, compared to traditional methods.
3. Customizable
A common misconception is that modular housing isn’t customizable. While many manufacturers will often begin with a starter floor plan, they may also offer various customization options throughout the home.
4. Safety Record
Construction is a dangerous way to make a living. In 2021, construction and extraction workers held the number two spot for fatal occupational injuries in the U.S., with 951 work fatalities.
When you drill down into that number, construction tradespeople are in the majority, by far, with 726 that year alone.Description | Fatalities |
---|---|
Transportation and material moving occupations | 1,523 |
Construction and extraction occupations | 951 |
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations | 475 |
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations | 356 |
Management occupations | 323 |
Protective service occupations | 302 |
Production occupations | 242 |
Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations | 218 |
Sales and related occupations | 200 |
Food preparation and serving related occupations | 101 |
Office and administrative support occupations | 91 |
Unknown occupation | 71 |
Personal care and service occupations | 64 |
Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations | 57 |
Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations | 45 |
Community and social services occupations | 40 |
Healthcare support occupations | 32 |
Architecture and engineering occupations | 29 |
Business and financial operations occupations | 27 |
Educational instruction and library occupations | 16 |
Legal occupations | 11 |
Life, physical, and social science occupations | 10 |
Computer and mathematical occupations | 6 |
Military occupations | 0 |
Total | 5,190 |
Because modular construction happens in a controlled, factory environment, the number of accidents decreases by 80% compared to traditional building methods.
5. Environmental Impact
Anyone who has walked past a residential build site can testify to the amount of waste produced during construction. Modular construction is more efficient and therefore produces less waste. And because onsite construction is limited to assembly, there is less dust and noise. Carbon emissions are also 38% lower.
6. Built to Last
Modular housing is as good, if not better constructed, than many traditionally-built houses. The factory environment allows for superior quality control, and homes built this way use 15-20% more wood per square foot, which makes them stronger. Moreover, in a study commissioned by the Federal Emergency Management Agency after 1992’s Hurricane Andrew found that modular housing “performed much better than conventional residential framing.”
A Market On The Rise
Not only is modular housing cheaper and greener than traditional construction methods, it is also a market on the rise.
According to a recent report, the global modular construction market is expected to reach $54 billion by 2027, with a CAGR of 2.9% between 2021 to 2027.
Thinking Outside of the Box on Housing
Modular housing could be a solution to the housing affordability crisis not only in the U.S., but around the world. And with the global city population expected to hit 68% by 2050, it’s time to think outside the box on housing.
Boxabl uses advanced, mass production techniques to build and ship homes that significantly lower the cost of home ownership for everyone.
This is the final piece in the Reimagining Home Series from our sponsor, Boxabl. Be sure to read parts one and two on urbanization and affordable housing.

Learn more about how Boxabl is helping tackle the housing affordability crisis.

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