Do you hesitate before speaking up at work because you’re unsure how it will land?
Do “unwritten rules” seem to apply differently to women?
Does the culture quietly punish honesty, boundaries, or ambition?
If this feels familiar, the issue may not be you. It may be the workplace.
In this solo episode, Michelle Redfern outlines five clear, recurring signs that a workplace is not working for women. These are not personality clashes or one-off bad days. They are structural and cultural patterns that, left unchecked, undermine women’s safety, credibility, wellbeing, and progression.
Michelle explains why recognising these signs early matters, how toxic environments take hold, and what women can do to protect themselves and others when the culture is already compromised.
In this episode, Michelle covers:
The difference between a challenging workplace and a harmful one
Five common signs a workplace is toxic for women
Why silence, exclusion, and “norms” are often the earliest warning signals
How toxic cultures damage performance, health, and retention
Practical strategies women can use to navigate, document, and decide their next move
This episode is not about fixing yourself to fit a broken system. It is about developing judgment, clarity, and options when the environment itself is the problem.
Resources mentioned:
Our Watch – guidance on recognising and responding to harmful workplace behaviour
She Defined Magazine – article on women and toxic workplace cultures
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