Toxic Workplaces in the Billboard Industry —Identify and Resolve

HR in Out of Home

Toxic Workplaces in the Billboard Industry and How to Identify and Resolve Them

by Janea S. McDonald, PhD, PHR, SHRM-CP

janea@edgehrconsulting.com  www.edgehrconsulting.com

Workplaces are meant to be spaces of growth, collaboration, and achievement. Unfortunately, some organizations become breeding grounds for toxicity, undermining employee well-being and hindering professional development. In this article, we explore the characteristics of toxic workplaces, shedding light on the specific challenges faced by employees in the billboard industry.

Understanding Toxic Workplaces

A toxic workplace is characterized by a negative culture that fosters harmful behaviors, eroding employee morale and productivity. Key indicators include poor leadership, lack of transparency, discrimination, excessive workloads, lack of work/life balance and ineffective communication. These factors, when left unaddressed, can create a toxic environment with severe consequences for employee mental health.  The effects on the employee’s mental health will result in problems with productivity and efficiency and possibly lead to high turnover rates.

The billboard industry, a vital component of the advertising landscape, is not immune to the challenges of toxic workplaces. Despite its importance and growth, the industry faces unique dynamics that contribute to an unhealthy work environment.

Leadership and Management Issues

One prevalent issue in the billboard industry is poor leadership and management.  This could be due to the fact that most billboard companies are small, family-owned businesses where the leadership might not have formal management training or experience. Employees often face challenges when leaders lack adequate training, fail to provide clear direction or resort to micromanagement. If employees require micromanagement, they might not be the right person for that job.  Make sure your hiring practices are effective, that you are hiring the best people for the job and the organization, and that you should not have to micromanage them.  Leaders should invest in leadership training, which will ultimately improve the organization as a whole. In the high-pressure world of billboard advertising, where deadlines are tight and creativity is crucial, ineffective leadership exacerbates stress levels and diminishes job satisfaction.

Transparency and Communication Challenges

Transparency and effective communication are critical in any industry. In the billboard sector, where campaigns require coordination between various teams, breakdowns in communication can lead to costly mistakes and frustration. The lack of clear policies and unequal distribution of information contribute to an environment where employees feel uninformed and undervalued.  It is important to understand that overcommunication is really “just enough” communication.  Someone once told me, “When you get tired of telling someone something is just about the time they are getting and understanding the message.”  Be transparent while being selective about what to share and when.  Well-informed employees are less stressed employees, but facts are better than guesses or gossip.  Wait to share until you are sure about what you are sharing, to ease any nervousness about unknowns and “what ifs”.

Discrimination and Harassment

Discrimination and harassment pose significant threats to workplace well-being in the billboard industry. Gender disparities and racial or ethnic discrimination can create a hostile work environment, impacting employee morale and hindering diversity and inclusion efforts. Recognizing and addressing these issues is paramount for fostering a healthy workplace culture.  While there are legal definitions of these terms, employees can often feel they are being harassed by improper treatment.  It is never okay to scream at employees – that is considered abusive behavior and should not be tolerated.  I can promise you that if a conversation escalates to screaming, the person being screamed at is no longer hearing the message.  It’s best to demonstrate emotional intelligence by pausing and responding – not reacting.  It is also not okay to exclude certain employees from meetings and conversations.  The goal should be inclusion and treating people the way they want to be treated (the platinum rule).

Addressing Workload Issues

Billboard industry professionals often grapple with excessive workloads and tight deadlines. Unrealistic expectations and the constant pressure to deliver flawless campaigns contribute to burnout and mental health challenges. Organizations must find a balance between achieving business goals and prioritizing the well-being of their workforce.  Normal work hours should be respected.  With cell phone access and working from home situations, people often end up working more than 40 hours a week, which should be the exception, not the rule. For employees not paid hourly, if they work outside normal business hours regularly, they should be allowed to take time off during normal business hours to compensate for it. Not on a one-for-one basis but enough so that the employee does not feel overwhelmed, overworked, underpaid and underappreciated.  Remember that all employees have a life outside of work – the job should not be their entire life – and overworking employees has a negative impact on the employee and the organization.  It is estimated that about half of all employees feel burnt out.  This has ripple effects, including financial effects on the employee and the organization.

Creating a Healthy Workplace Culture

To combat toxicity, organizations in the billboard industry must prioritize the creation of a healthy workplace culture. This involves investing in leadership training, improving communication channels, and implementing policies that promote diversity and inclusion. Employee engagement strategies, such as fostering a sense of belonging and providing adequate support systems, can significantly contribute to a positive work environment.  Keep in mind that your workplace has a culture already, but you need to take steps to make sure it’s the culture you want.  This is a never-ending process.  Take your hands off the wheel, and your culture will end up being something that does not benefit you or your employees.

Conclusion

As the billboard industry continues to thrive, it is crucial to address the challenges associated with toxic workplaces. By acknowledging and actively working to eliminate poor leadership, communication breakdowns, discrimination, and excessive workloads, organizations can create environments where employees flourish both personally and professionally. A commitment to cultivating a healthy workplace culture not only benefits individual employees but also contributes to the long-term success and sustainability of the billboard industry as a whole.  If you feel like any of these toxic behaviors are present in your workplace, reach out to me so I can help you create a workplace culture where people want to work, feel safe and secure, and are therefore more productive.  It’s truly a win-win for the employees and the organization.

Contact Janea at janea@edgehrconsulting.com. Visit www.edgehrconsulting.com