Why I Don't Work Here Anymore: A Leader’s Guide to Offset the Financial and Emotional Costs of Toxic Employees

by Mitchell Kusy

You have likely heard stories from friends, family members, and colleagues who quit a job because of a toxic person—an individual who belittles, shames, humiliates, shames, or bullies. You may not have realized that these individuals not only take their tolls on our emotional psyches, but the financial outcomes of their organizations as well. Through this book’s many case examples, as well as evidence-based practices and templates, each chapter singles out one main issue and how to resolve it with respect and clarity. Dr. Kusy presents concrete practices that will restore civility and respect into your organization as well as with increased financial performance. Some of these practices

Calculating the real financial cost of toxic people in your organization. Providing direct and respectful feedback to a toxic peer, direct report, and even your boss. Replacing traditional exit interviews -- that often don’t work very well -- with a method for dealing with toxic chameleons who "knock down and kiss up." Hiring, engaging talent, and even firing people based on a new approach to values-based performance management. You will emerge with a newfound understanding that restores personal well-being and increased financial performance.

116 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 2, 2017

About the author

A 2005 Fulbright Scholar in Organization Development, Dr. Kusy is a professor in the Graduate School of Leadership & Change at Antioch University. Mitch has consulted and been a keynote speaker with hundreds of organizations nationally and internationally—helping create work cultures of respectful engagement impacting individual, team, and bottom-line performance. He previously headed leadership and organization development at American Express Financial Advisors and HealthPartners. Previous to Why I Don't Work Here Anymore: A Leader’s Guide to Offset the Financial and Emotional Costs of Toxic Employees, Mitch co-authored five business books. In 1998, he received the Minnesota Organization Development Practitioner of the Year Award. He resides in Minneapolis and Palm Springs, and may be contacted at mitchellkusy@gmail.com or via his website at www.mitchellkusy.com. He can be followed on LinkedIn and Facebook Business (https://www.facebook.com/mitchkusy/).

Reviews

[Martin Diamond · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mitch Kusy has delivered again! In his latest book, he offers excellent counsel regarding toxic behavior, organization dysfunction, and how to create a culture of respectful and civil engagement.

Dr Kusy describes evidence-based tools to recognize a toxic environment and, importantly, how to avoid it. His guidance and examples reflect real-world situations and are laden with creative ideas. Mitch’s style is crisp, engaging and entertaining. Clearly, he's very experienced in working to root out toxic people based on the stories he tells.

Dr Kusy identifies the financial and emotional cost of a toxic environment. He cites research that quantifies the toll on businesses as a result of toxic behavior, which immediately motivates you to want to understand how to remedy or prevent it from taking root in your company. When you take into consideration the factors Dr. Kusy highlights you understand the imperative of making certain your employees know that disruptive behavior is not acceptable.

Chapters flow logically beginning with insights to descriptions of high performers and the impact of bullying. Mitch offers tools for correction such as how to apologize and the power of an apology.

Outlining a variety of false myths related to human behavior is a valuable segment as are the steps to take in evaluating job candidates and effective ways to monitor performance.

This book belongs on the desk of every manager and leader as a reminder of important steps we must take to assure a high performing and respectful culture.

Martin Diamond, LFACHE, Executive Coach, The Diamond Leadership Group

[Dr. Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so "right on" especially for many of us who have worked in healthcare for our careers. We need to work in high functioning complex teams to deliver excellent safe care. This book gives us several practical ways to understand how to achieve that. Dr. Kusy points out the need to address the "elephant in the room": those toxic people who many times are "clinically excellent" but are not trained as leaders and team players. We now have your research showing the financial implications that must be assessed. This book gives us a measurable way to ensure we can and must effectively address these people directly. Congratulations on a well written, practical book to assist our leaders and organizations as we strive to improve our complex teams caring for our loved ones in health care. There is no better time for "toxic" to be addressed than now. Thank you for moving this research and leadership topic forward.
Dr. Susan E. McClernon, Innovative Healthcare Leadership and Faculty Director, UMN Twin Cities Program in Health Services Management

[Eric Poole · Rating 5 out of 5]

EVERY boss and HR professional should read this book. As someone who had an extraordinarily toxic boss (in a large corporation); and as someone who was privy to both the emotional and hard costs his behavior had on both morale and the quality of work performed under his leadership (he was eventually removed), I can attest to the importance of this book.

Dr. Mitch’s insights on this kind of personality are not only profound, but the tips he offers for dealing with them are entirely practical. And he offers advice from from multiple perspectives including that geared to employees, bosses, peers and HR. (There were a number of “why didn’t I think of that?” moments.)

And although he uses graphs and tables periodically, this isn’t at all a dry, academic-type read. It’s conversational and completely readable. I walked away from this book armed with very real insights. Highly recommended.

[Dani Chesson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Businesses today are heavily reliant on human relationships. It is this intricate network of human contacts that give firms a unique competitive advantage. However, in the result-oriented environment most firms exist in, firms fail to realize the value of human relationships to the bottom line. Healthy relationships contribute to the bottom line positively. Conversely, toxic relationships can erode the profitability of organizations. This book artfully shines a light on the financial implications of toxic employees to a firm's bottom line.

Dr. Kusy uses research-based evidence to demonstrate the financial cost of unhealthy and toxic relationships within the organization. Then offers evidence-based strategies for addressing toxic employees. While this book is research-based, it is written for practitioners with immediate actions that can be put into practice.

[Edward Lim · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have a toxic coworker, subordinate or supervisor, this is the book for you! Dr. Mitchell Kusy writes in a clear, engaging manner, making his book an easy and engrossing read. It is full of research-back statistics that prove that toxic workers raise stress and bring down productivity. But fear not- there are ample strategies that will encourage you to motivate the toxic worker to change for the better, and to stop yourself from engaging in practices that allow or encourage toxic behaviors to flourish.

[Lloyd Duman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Kusy offers timely advice on how to address a persistent problem in organizations: toxic employees and toxic leaders. Dr. Kusy's research shows that the cost of not addressing and maintaining toxic individuals in an organization far outweighs confronting the issue. Dr. Kusy, then, offers concrete actions to address toxic behaviors of employees and managers. Moreover, his suggested reflective practices force the reader to confront his/her possible toxic behaviors toward others. "Why I Don't Work Here Anymore" is a must read for those who confront toxic behaviors in the workplace.

[William J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Kusy has an excellent and valuable perspective on the "toxic" worker as outlined in his easy-to-read book. After dealing with difficult workers' comp patients in my medical practice as an MD for 20 years in my prior work life, and speaking with hundreds of HR directors, it is clear Mitch understands how to motivate to enhance employee engagement and boost morale with the goal of better productivity via culture change. Presenteeism is just as bad and sometimes worse than absenteeism. Mitch knows how to adjust the sails of the company ship into smoother waters.

[Amy Tolbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Kusy calls it a "leader's guide," but I'd say it every person's guide! The action items can be applied in an organization, in a community volunteer role or in a family structure. The tips and ideas he provides (and myths he debunks) paints a very clear picture of what can be done when interacting with toxic people. It also helps the reader hold up a mirror - could I possibly be adding to the toxicity? I'm a person of action,and I want to know how to adapt my behavior to get a better end result...this book helps me do just that!

[Brian Gottschalk · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book both engaging and educational. I truly enjoyed all the great points Dr. Kusy made in regards to navigating toxic relationships with coworkers in the work environment. I have already begun practicing many of the skills I acquired from reading this, and am noticing incredible results in relationships I previously found difficult or overwhelming. Thank you so much to Dr. Kusy for bringing such a well informed perspective!

[Andy Schmiedel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why I Don’t Work Here Anymore provides the best detailed course of action I’ve come across to resolve issues associated with a toxic employee or boss. The book is essential for anyone preparing to take the necessary steps to improve a toxic work environment. Andy Schmiedel-Retired Partner RSVP Vacations.

[Mark Bloemhard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Kusy does a great job of making it simple, boiling rigorous research down to palatable terms for the everyday leader.

Like a marvelous attorney, he unpacks the phenomena of toxic behavior in the workplace and rationalizes, in concrete terms, how devastating toxic behavior can be to the organization as well as the bottom line.

[Jessica Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

We have all worked with toxic supervisors and toxic co-workers. This book helps readers make sense of both and offers an opportunity for self-reflection. Most important the author provides real advice regarding what to do. This is an essential book for new and seasoned managers. Highly recommend!

[Residenzasanlorenzo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite all the best intentions and experience, leaders can underestimate the consequences of their actions. Once again Dr. Mitchell Kusy offers practical examples. I found the numerous scenarios illustrated in this essential book very resourceful. Luca

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! Mitch Kusy draws on extensive research about toxic employees and provides comprehensive and concrete actions to take to prevent and deal with toxic people at work. It's well-written, easy to read, and a great resource to ensure your company gets and stays toxic-free!

[Kevin Peters · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've followed Dr. Kusy's writings in the past, and it has saved my company a lot of heartache. Now, with "Why I Don't Work Here Anymore", we have an accessible how-to guide for identifying and acting on the trouble so many of us experience in the workplace.

[Andrew McJorrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

A potentially useful resource for HR people, managers, and anyone dealing with a toxic/high conflict person. Provides a framework of sorts, plenty of templates and methodology for calculating the cost of toxic people.. Chapter 3 was probably the standout for me. A sort read too.

[Reginaldo Espinoza · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my Organizational Behavior class I allow students to chose a special topic for their final paper. Whenever a students want to learn more about toxic employees and how to address them, I steer them to Mitch Kusy’s work. He is the consummate scholar-practitioner. His work is grounded in theory, research and practicality. As expected, this book delivers. Kusy goes beyond a description of toxicity in the workplace and its crippling effect—he informs the reader on how not to be victimized by toxic people. I especially found the following question helpful, “Are you a toxic protector or toxic buffer?” Organizational change happens when individuals take responsibility for personal change. Kusy asks the reader to examine what she or he is doing to allow toxic people to do their damage. This book is a great read whether you are struggling with a toxic person or not—you will learn strategies for keeping them from doing their thing. Great read!

[Annie Hernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Any leader wanting “to spread everyday civility concepts like a proactive virus” will find practical cases, examples, templates, and self-completion inventories aplenty in this incredible gift from the organization development master, Mitch Kusy. So much smart advice that will help you CREATE or intentionally UPDATE your performance management processes to employ organizational values for smart hiring, ongoing nurturing...and helping exit toxic employees with grace. I felt like Mitch was coaching me in-person for how to design my team and organizational culture for everyday civility—and have already seen results! Favorite included tips for hard conversations: how to apologize, addressing an issue that has been ignored over time, feedback conversation starters and enders, ending toxic buffering, skip-level discussions, and more!

[Judd Ebersviller · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Why I Don't Work Here Anymore Dr. Kusy provides us with the means to identify and address a long-time workplace situation, workers who destroy positive work environments through their adverse personal interactions. The book is a comprehensive discussion of the situation that includes tools to identify a toxic person, an examination of data available to quantify the financial impacts of their adverse behaviors and a full tool box that leads us through the remedial process from preventive steps during hiring to feedback that addresses the related personnel issues and team assessment techniques to support strategies to move forward.

[Eddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book offers amazing insights on diagnosing and understanding toxic workplaces. Dr. Kusy shares a pragmatic tool for leaders and practitioners backed by rigorous research to support his findings and insights. It’s not often a resource like this comes along with SO many free and approachable techniques for dealing with the pervasive virulence of the workplace. A must read— thank you for sharing this with the world Dr. Kusy!

[Trisha Swed · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book with helpful concrete examples of how to manage and prevent toxic people in the workplace.

[Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Kusy summarized the issue of toxic behavior in the workplace in a comprehensive, easy to understand fashion. He provided realistic examples that could be easily adapted to a number of workplace settings. The book provided a multitude of surveys and questionnaires for individuals to use in the resolution of the problem of toxic behavior in the workplace. I felt these were especially helpful because they provided a starting place for people struggling with this issue. I certainly could relate it to experiences In my own work setting and would have found it very helpful at that time. This is a book that could certainly be helpful in many settings and across the hierarchy of a company. Dr. Kusy has provided a valuable tool for individuals struggling with toxic behavior in the workplace.

[George Dow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr Kusy has delivered a practical, effective and easily consumed guide for anyone needing to deal with toxic employees or bosses. I am an executive career transition coach, and stay connected with my clients long after they land in their new jobs. Dr. Kusy has made my “guidance after landing” job much easier by offering a book I can offer my clients if/when this toxic problem appears. This is unfortunately a common and infuriating problem in business, but there are few books that deal with this topic in such a thorough, practical and well researched manner. Thank you Dr. Kusy for providing this tool for solving the toxic employee challenge.