The Silent Toxicity of Kashmir’s Workplaces

Zia Darakshan 

 Srinagar 29 April: Kashmir has witnessed immense turmoil over the decades, enough to keep us trapped in uncertainty and underdevelopment. But alongside all that, there exists another kind of turmoil , one that may not make headlines, yet quietly drains people to the core of their mental faculties. It leaves many of us doubting our own abilities, and walking around like unpaid philosophers carrying the burden of the world on our shoulders.

And just when you begin wondering what mysterious force has caused this emotional exhaustion, welcome to the grand theatre of office politics, where talent meets sycophancy, incompetence challenges competence, and jealousy surpasses all boundaries enough to drive even the sane insane.

Recently, I met a friend after many years, and I was shocked by the change I saw in her. It was not a transformation for the better. Her exhausted appearance immediately made me worry about her mental well-being. When I gently asked about her life, what she shared took me on an emotional roller coaster. I could not stop imagining the pain she must have endured while dealing with the harsh realities of her workplace.

Workplace abuse is not limited to harsh words or verbal insults. It takes many forms  humiliation, manipulation, discrimination, favoritism, isolation, and psychological pressure. Harassment too is not always direct exploitation; sometimes it hides behind policies, authority, or so-called professional discipline. Whatever form it takes, the impact on a person’s mental health is devastating.

Office politics is not new. It has existed for generations and perhaps always will. But what is alarming today is how some insensitive and power-hungry individuals misuse their positions in the name of discipline, efficiency, and organizational growth. They create environments filled with fear and insecurity, where employees constantly worry about losing their jobs if they refuse to obey unreasonable or unethical orders.

Ironically, the most sincere and hardworking employees often become the easiest targets. Those who refuse to compromise their honesty or professional ethics are sidelined, labelled difficult,or placed on the blacklist of manipulative superiors. Meanwhile, employees who blindly agree with every order, regardless of its fairness or morality, become the blue-eyed favourites of management.

In many organizations, dedication,efficiency  and integrity are no longer rewarded. Instead, sycophancy is mistaken for loyalty. Honest employees are often overburdened, blamed when things go wrong, and made scapegoats when corruption or scams surface. The wrong doers escape accountability because they enjoy the protection of influential bosses. The innocent becomes sitting ducks, punished not for incompetence, but for their sincerity and competency.

Such toxic environments slowly destroy a person from within. Employees begin doubting themselves. Their confidence weakens, their peace of mind disappears, and many even start considering leaving jobs they once loved. The emotional damage does not remain confined to the office. Families become silent sufferers too, witnessing the stress, frustration, and helplessness their loved ones carry home every day.

What disturbed me the most was hearing my friend say that the workplace she once admired and enjoyed has now become a place of torture for her. She no longer feels motivated to work there. This transformation is heartbreaking because no institution can truly grow when its employees are mentally exhausted and emotionally broken.

It is important to understand that workplace toxicity is not limited to women alone. Men too face similar struggles, and sometimes suffer silently under immense pressure because society expects them to handle it. Toxic work cultures affect everyone. They reduce productivity, damage creativity, weaken teamwork, and ultimately harm the growth of the organization itself. Instead of focusing on meaningful work, employees spend most of their energy dealing with office politics, protecting themselves, or surviving hostile environments.

A healthy workplace should inspire people, not destroy them. Organizations must realize that growth cannot come at the cost of employees dignity and mental well-being. Respect, transparency, accountability, and empathy are not signs of weakness in leadership, they are the foundations of a strong and successful institution.

If workplaces continue to reward manipulation over merit and fear over fairness, we are not just creating unhappy employees  we are creating a broken society.

The need of the hour is for organizations to stop functioning without accountability. Every institution must have an independent ombudsperson, a properly functioning HR department, and trained mental health professionals to support employees and address internal politics that hamper both individual well-being and organizational growth. These support systems should include dedicated helplines connected directly with NGOs working in the fields of harassment prevention and mental health, where employees can safely file complaints without fear. Such complaints must be properly evaluated, sincerely heard, and followed by necessary disciplinary action  not merely as a formality, but with genuine seriousness and accountability. Employees deserve workplaces where their voices are heard, their dignity is protected, and their concerns are addressed without intimidation or victimization.