‘Toxic Workers’ Costing Companies Thousands

Rude and lazy employees are unpleasant for obvious reasons, but a Harvard Business School study has found that avoiding hiring a “toxic worker” can actually save companies around $12,500. Using data from about 60,000 workers at 11 companies, and examining hostile or manipulative employees, the study found that “Avoiding a toxic worker (or converting them to an average worker) provides more benefit than finding and retaining a superstar.” Bad workers bring bad behavior out in others, and make co-workers less productive. “In extreme cases, aside from hurting performance, such workers can generate enormous regulatory and legal fees and liabilities for the firm,” the study says.