- Leadership and middle management are poorly aligned. Priorities shift constantly with little clarity, and accountability often falls unfairly on staff who were never properly briefed.
- Heavy workloads with minimal support. Staff are often expected to work into evenings and weekends to rush out tasks without proper resources.
- Managers can be inconsistent and lack empathy. Feedback provided, if any, is vague, delayed, or contradictory, leaving staff directionless.
- Toxic behaviors (exclusion, gossip, favoritism) are tolerated and sometimes rewarded.