The Culture &… Podcast, Episode 1: The Hidden Cost of Toxic Workplaces

As workplace culture, employee wellbeing, and leadership accountability continue to shape conversations about the future of work, Culture &... by Inc. Arabia is a new podcast that explores the realities of today’s workplaces.

The podcast, launched to coincide with International Human Resources (HR) Day on May 20, comes at a time when workplace culture is becoming a defining factor in employee retention and engagement. While professionals are increasingly known to prioritize purpose, wellbeing, flexibility, and healthy leadership in the workplace, concerns around toxic work environments continue to grow. A 2023 study, for instance, found that one in five employees claim to work in a toxic environment, with company culture, rather than compensation, emerging as a leading reason people choose to leave organizations.

Such concerns form the basis of the first episode of Culture &..., which sees Anas Abbar, CEO of 7awi Media Group (the media house behind Inc. Arabia), sit down with Gulneet Chadha, a corporate HR and wellness consultant, to discuss the factors that shape toxic work environments, and the impact they have on both businesses and employees. Besides being an exploration of how organizations can identify toxic workplace behaviors, the conversation also delves into how business leaders can go about building healthier, more sustainable workplace cultures.

The full episode is now available online; stay tuned to Inc. Arabia for more episodes of Culture &...!