Academic abuse: A conceptual framework of the dimensions of toxic culture in higher education and the impact on the meaning of work

Abstract

This article provides a conceptual framework of the dimensions of a toxic culture in higher education and the impact it has on the meaning of work. Seven dimensions of a toxic culture in higher education are presented as follows: toxic leadership; bullying and mobbing; colleagues as enablers; reinforced toxic social norms; purposeful, chaotic change; manipulation of systems, structures and processes; and weaponization of the work itself. The article then discusses how the harmful individual outcomes of working in a toxic culture change the meaning of work from meaningful to meaningless, and the corresponding organizational outcomes. These include high turnover; decreased performance and productivity; lack of effective problem solving; increased expenses for legal, healthcare, unemployment, recruitment and the inability to recruit new talent. Recommendations are provided for systemic culture change.