The Impact of Toxic Workplace Environment on Employee Engagement: The Mediating Role of Job Anxiety in ABC Company of Sri Lanka

This research aims to explore the detrimental effects of a toxic work environment on employee engagement, focusing on the role of job anxiety as a mediating factor. This research has done at planning sector company of ABC in Sri Lanka. This research is based on conservation of resources (COR) theory. Researcher used quantitative research, and data was collected from 306 employees employed by ABC company in Sri Lanka. To analyze the proposed relationships of the research, this study used the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Research found the toxic workplace environment negatively impacts on employee engagement, through mediating the role of job anxiety. Further, the conclusion of this research confirms that job anxiety is significant and partially mediates the toxic workplace environment and employee engagement. Furthermore, the research finding confirms the relationship between a toxic workplace environment and employee engagement was significant and has had a negative impact. When employees work in a toxic environment, they spread negative feelings towards their coworkers. Harassment, bullying, and ostracism can cause stress, burnout, depression, and anxiety. When workplace toxicity goes unaddressed for an extended period, employees can become disengaged and lose their motivation to engage at their best. The toxic work environment has been shown to reduce employee engagement significantly, often by increasing levels of stress and anxiety. Thus, the impact of toxic workplace environments in organizations reduces overall performance and employee engagement.