HBR Guide to Navigating the Toxic Workplace

CHAPTER 14

Managing a Toxic Employee

by Amy Gallo

There’s that one person on your team—the bad apple who has nothing positive to say, riles up other team members, and makes work life miserable. If you can’t fire them, how do you respond to their behavior? What feedback do you give? How do you mitigate the damage they inflict?

What the Experts Say

There’s a difference between a difficult employee and a toxic one, says Dylan Minor, an assistant professor at the Kellogg School of Management who studies this topic. “I call them toxic because not only do they cause harm but they also spread their behavior to others,” she explains. “There’s a pattern of de-energizing, frustrating, or putting down teammates,” adds Christine Porath, an associate professor ...