Mitigating Toxic Leaders Through the Experiences of Employees: A Qualitative Narrative Inquiry

The purpose of this qualitative narrative inquiry explored the toxic leadership through the experiences and perceptions of employees to identify strategies and best practices for mitigation increase productivity, enhance job satisfaction, increase morale and retention in an organization in the Northeast region of the United States. Using purposive and snowball sampling, 15 employees participated in semi-structured interviews. Data analysis revealed five themes and two subthemes, highlighting toxic behaviors, lack of empathy, bullying, discrimination, poor communication, and impact on mental health. The study addresses a research gap by examining toxic leadership effects between employees and organizations, emphasizing the importance of addressing toxic leadership to foster a healthier work environment and enhance morale and job satisfaction.