Toxic Workplace Behaviour – A Risk to More Than Just Culture

19 Feb

Managing a toxic workplace nearly broke me.

I’ve worked in a clinic where the environment was poisoned by gossip, backstabbing, and blame-shifting.

The staff were unhappy. The owners were unhappy. Patients could feel the tension the moment they walked through the doors.

It became my responsibility to hold everything together, but every day was a battle.

Rather than focusing on patient care and operational success, I was dragged into petty disputes, listening to constant whinging, and putting out emotional fires.

People blamed each other, some even blamed me (while conveniently ignoring their own contributions to the dysfunction).

I carried the stress home. It affected my mental health, my confidence, and my overall well-being.

Eventually, I left.

But even after moving on, the toxicity had a way of following me.

Some people, those who were often at the heart of the problems, continued to reach out, stirring up old tensions, trying to pull me back into their web of blame and negativity.

Blocking them was the only solution.

But it left me wondering, how many other clinic managers or staff are enduring this right now? How many good people are being pushed to their limits because of unchecked workplace toxicity?

This is why I’m writing this.

Because toxic culture doesn’t just hurt feelings, it destroys businesses.

The Real Cost of a Toxic Workplace

When toxic behaviour is left unchecked, the damage ripples far beyond the individuals involved.

It impacts your bottom line.

Productivity drops as staff focus on conflicts instead of patient care.

High performers leave, fed up with the drama.

Recruitment costs skyrocket as you try to replace those who’ve had enough.

Patient experience suffers, appointments run late, mistakes are made, and the energy of the clinic feels ‘off.’

Reputation takes a hit. Word spreads quickly when a practice becomes known for its internal chaos.

Sales decline. Retention weakens. And suddenly, what once felt like a thriving business is barely keeping its head above water.

Toxicity Isn’t Always Obvious (Until It’s Too Late)

One of the hardest lessons I learned is that toxic people rarely see themselves as the problem.

They are experts at shifting blame.

They position themselves as victims while quietly stirring the pot behind closed doors.

They rally others into their negativity, creating cliques and feeding off drama.

By the time you realise what’s happening, the damage is done.

And if you’re the one in a leadership role, trying to hold it all together, you often become their easiest scapegoat.

The Compliance Risk You Can’t Ignore

In healthcare and cosmetic clinics, this isn’t just an internal issue, it’s a regulatory risk.

Ahpra notifications often start with internal disputes.

Defamation claims arise when staff turn personal conflicts into professional attacks.

Harassment complaints trigger legal battles that drain time, money, and morale.

What begins as gossip in the break-room can quickly escalate into a front-page compliance investigation.

How To Protect Your Practice

Clear Policies: Make your expectations around behaviour non-negotiable. Don’t tolerate gossip, bullying, or blame games—no matter who it’s coming from.

Incident Reporting: Give staff a confidential way to raise concerns early, before conflicts spiral out of control.

Leadership Accountability: No one is above the standard you set, not even your so-called “star employees.” Toxicity from the top filters down fast.

Regular Culture Audits: Don’t wait for a complaint to check the health of your workplace. Be proactive.

External Support: Sometimes, you need an outside expert to see what’s really happening. Someone who isn’t emotionally tied to the team and can give an honest assessment.

A Final Thought

Leaving a toxic clinic was one of the best decisions I ever made.

But I wish I’d done it sooner.

I wish I’d trusted my instincts when I saw the warning signs, when I realised certain people would never take accountability.

At LUNASystems, we help clinics break these cycles before they break your business.

Let’s build something better. Together.

Contact Us for a Consultation.