Organizational Toxin Handlers: The Critical Role of Hr, Od, and Coaching Practitioners in Managing Toxic Workplace Situations

This book examines the important role of HR practitioners acting as toxin handlers within their organizations and the dangers they face when dealing with toxic workplace emotions caused by difficult organizational decisions, such as mergers and acquisitions, staff reductions, and restructurings. Exploring what they do, why they do it, and the personal and professional rewards created by the work, it also examines the dangers that await them in terms of risks to their personal well-being.

In today's world, layoffs, harassment, discrimination, personality conflicts, or an abusive boss are just a few of the many types of workplace situations that can generate intense emotional pain for employees--feelings like anger, frustration, stress, disappointment, and even fear. Unfortunately, these types of events are predictable and somewhat inevitable, but it is the way organizations handle them--or do not--that can create a serious problem for employees. The responsibility often falls to HR to help troubled employees reduce their emotional pain so that they can re-focus and get back to work as quickly as possible, resulting in positive organizational outcomes.

This book highlights the balancing act that HR must perform of caring for employees and championing their causes while at the same time driving toward organizational goals set by senior leaders. The author demonstrates how toxin handlers reduce organizational pain during tough times while also exploring the costs to their own well-being. Readers will learn to minimize the negative impact of toxic emotions from an organizational as well as individual perspective. This book will teach HR professionals strategies about how to anticipate and navigate the organizational toxicity caused by some of the inevitable and difficult people-related situations that are likely to come their way.

About author(s):

Teresa A. Daniel currently serves as Dean and Professor of the Human Resource Leadership Programs at Sullivan University, USA. She is also the Chair for the HRL concentration in the university's PhD in Management program.

Dr. Daniel has a significant body of research in HR with an emphasis on two primary areas of inquiry: (1) counterproductive work behaviors (focused on workplace bullying, sexual harassment, and toxic leadership), and (2) HR's unique role and its impact on organizational effectiveness (e.g., in the management of toxic workplace emotions, responding to situations of workplace bullying and harassment, dealing with toxic leaders, and the management of people during mergers and acquisitions). Her research has been actively supported by the national Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) through the publication of numerous articles and interviews, as well as by the publication of her book, co-authored with Dr. Gary Metcalf, titled Stop Bullying at Work: Strategies and Tools for HR, Legal & Risk Management Professionals.

Dr. Daniel was honored as an Initial Fellow of the International Academy on Workplace Bullying, Mobbing, and Abuse in 2014 and received the Distinguished Alumnus Award at Centre College in 2002. Most recently, she was the 2019 Grand Prize Winner of the national SHRM HR Haiku contest.