Inside a Workplace Culture Reset: How Organisations Can Recover from Toxic or Outdated Work Practices

Workplace culture shapes how employees feel, perform, and stay engaged. When a toxic workplace culture takes hold or management styles become outdated, organisations face serious challenges. Over time, these issues erode trust, lower employee morale, and increase burnout. For HR and leadership teams in the UAE, recognising the need for a culture reset is the first step toward rebuilding a healthier, more productive environment.

This article explores how toxic norms and emotional exhaustion accumulate, why traditional management no longer works, and how companies can intentionally reset their culture. It highlights practical ways to improve psychological safety, adopt modern leadership practices, and use corporate therapy support from Kaizen Wellbeing to restore trust and engagement.

How Toxic Workplace Culture Develops and Its Impact

Toxic workplace culture often starts subtly. Small behaviours, unchecked conflicts, and outdated management habits build up over months or years. These include:

• Micromanagement that stifles autonomy

• Lack of open communication or feedback

• Ignoring employee wellbeing and mental health

• Rewarding competition over collaboration

• Tolerating disrespect or exclusion

As these patterns persist, employees feel undervalued and unsafe. Emotional burnout rises, leading to higher absenteeism, turnover, and reduced productivity. For example, a UAE-based company found that after years of ignoring employee concerns, their turnover rate doubled in two years, costing them both talent and revenue.

Toxic workplace culture also damages an organisation’s reputation, making it harder to attract skilled professionals in a competitive market. This is why HR culture transformation is critical to long-term success.

Why Traditional Management Styles No Longer Work

Many organisations still rely on hierarchical, command-and-control leadership. This style assumes employees follow orders without question and that productivity depends on strict oversight. In today’s fast-changing work environment, this approach creates frustration and disengagement.

Employees want to feel heard, trusted, and supported. They seek leaders who encourage collaboration, provide clear purpose, and promote work-life balance. Without these, outdated management styles contribute to stress and low morale.

For example, a Dubai-based firm that shifted from top-down directives to a coaching leadership style saw a 30% increase in employee engagement scores within six months. This change helped reduce burnout and improved team performance.

What a Culture Reset Looks Like

A culture reset means intentionally changing the norms, behaviours, and leadership approaches that shape daily work life. It requires commitment from top leadership and HR teams to create a new foundation based on respect, trust, and wellbeing.

Key steps include:

• Assessing current culture through surveys, interviews, and data analysis

• Identifying toxic behaviours and outdated practices

• Defining new values and behaviours aligned with organisational goals

• Training leaders in modern, empathetic management styles

• Creating channels for open communication and feedback

• Implementing a workplace wellbeing strategy that supports mental health

This process is not quick or easy. It takes time to rebuild trust and change habits. But with clear goals and consistent effort, organisations can recover employee morale and improve overall performance.

The Role of Psychological Safety in Culture Reset

Psychological safety means employees feel safe to speak up, share ideas, and admit mistakes without fear of punishment or ridicule. It is a cornerstone of healthy workplace culture.

When psychological safety is present, teams collaborate better, innovate more, and handle challenges constructively. Without it, employees hide concerns, avoid risks, and disengage.

HR culture transformation in the UAE increasingly focuses on building psychological safety by:

• Encouraging leaders to listen actively and respond supportively

• Normalising discussions about mental health and stress

• Recognising and addressing toxic behaviours promptly

• Promoting inclusivity and respect for diverse perspectives

Creating psychological safety helps organisations move away from toxic workplace culture and fosters a more resilient workforce.

How Corporate Therapy Support from Kaizen Wellbeing Helps

Corporate therapy Dubai services like those offered by Kaizen Wellbeing provide expert support during culture reset efforts. They offer tailored programs that address emotional burnout, communication breakdowns, and leadership challenges.

Benefits of working with Kaizen Wellbeing corporate teams include:

• Professional counselling for employees and leaders

• Workshops on stress management, emotional intelligence, and conflict resolution

• Guidance on developing a workplace wellbeing strategy

• Support for rebuilding trust and improving employee morale recovery

For example, a UAE organisation partnered with Kaizen Wellbeing to run monthly group therapy sessions and leadership coaching. After one year, employee satisfaction scores rose by 25%, and absenteeism dropped significantly.

Practical Tips for HR and Leadership Teams

To start a successful culture reset, HR and leadership teams can:

• Listen carefully to employee feedback and act on concerns

• Set clear expectations for respectful behaviour and accountability

• Train managers in empathy, active listening, and coaching skills

• Promote work-life balance through flexible policies and support

• Use data to track progress and adjust strategies as needed

• Partner with experts like Kaizen Wellbeing for ongoing support

These steps help organisations move beyond toxic workplace culture and build a positive environment where people thrive.

Kaizen Wellbeing is an online therapy platform established in the UAE but catering to people everywhere, providing people with quality and affordable therapy with qualified and warm therapists. Reach out at hello@kaizenwb.com or +971 50 961 8796 and book your first session towards nurturing your mental health.