How to Heal After a Toxic Incident at Work

There are four distinct phases to the aftermath of a toxic work incident, and each requires its own set of strategies and coping mechanisms. Many mistakenly believe that, once they report a situation or incident, they’ll experience relief, but find they continue to feel and process the aftershocks of what happened even years later. Others find it hard to fully move on, wondering why they remain exhausted and still carry the weight of the event with them. In this article, the author unpacks the difficult emotions that accompany each phase and shows how people affected worked through them. For business leaders, there’s vital insight to be gained in recognizing these phases — both for lessening the detrimental impact of the reporting process and for providing ample support to employees who, at considerable personal risk, voice their concerns to enhance organizational culture.