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While workplace toxicity appears to be easing slightly compared to last year, poor leadership, unresolved conflicts, and declining trust in HR continue to undermine employee wellbeing and retention, the survey found.
A toxic workplace remains a reality for the majority of employees, with nearly seven in 10 workers (68.9%) saying they have experienced one at some point in their careers, according to iHire's newly released 2026 Toxic Workplace Trends Report.
Based on a survey of 1,220 workers in the US, the report found that while this marks a slight improvement from 75.9% in 2025, workplace toxicity continues to have far-reaching consequences for employee wellbeing, retention, and employer reputation.
*While the survey was conducted in the US, HRO believes the findings remain relevant to our readership in Asia.
At the heart of the issue, once again, is leadership.
Among respondents who had experienced workplace toxicity, 79.1% attributed it to unethical, unaccountable, or unsupportive leaders, while 72.1% pointed to poor communication from leaders and managers – the top two drivers for the second consecutive year. Meanwhile, 17.2% said their managers rarely or never model respectful and professional behaviour.
The impact is significant. Nearly half (47.6%) of respondents said they had quit a job because of a toxic work environment.
Beyond turnover, workplace toxicity is also taking a toll on employees' mental health. More than four in 10 workers (43.2%) said they always or often feel burned out at work, while almost one-third (32.4%) admitted they had cried at work because of toxic workplace experiences.
The effects extend beyond an organisation's walls as well. More than six in 10 respondents (61.9%) said they had shared their negative workplace experiences with others, and over a quarter (26.2%) said they had actively discouraged potential candidates from joining a company they viewed as toxic – highlighting the reputational risks organisations face when workplace issues go unresolved.
The report also explored the role of AI in shaping workplace culture, finding that employees remain divided.
Nearly half (48.8%) said they were neutral or unsure about AI's impact on company culture. Among those with a positive view (18.9%), the biggest benefits cited were increased productivity (64.9%) and improved quality of work (55.4%).
However, 9.5% believed AI was having a negative effect, with more than half (52.6%) saying it removes the human element from workplace interactions, making collaboration more difficult.
At the same time, the findings suggest that many employees still lack confidence in HR's ability to address workplace issues.
Among respondents who witnessed toxic behaviour, 38.8% chose not to report it, with almost half (45.1%) saying they did not believe HR or leadership would take meaningful action.
Even among those who did raise concerns, more than half (51.4%) said nothing was addressed or resolved. Overall, 41% of respondents said conflict always or often goes unresolved within their organisation.
Commenting on the findings, Launi Vawter, Chief of Staff, iHire, said while the decline in reported workplace toxicity is encouraging, organisations cannot afford to become complacent.
"Our findings reinforce that leadership sets the tone for workplace culture, and when employees don't trust management and HR to address concerns, toxic behaviours can persist," Vawter said.
She added that organisations that prioritise accountability, communication, and trust – while using AI to strengthen rather than replace human connections — will be better positioned to retain talent and foster healthier workplace cultures.
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