What questions can I ask in interviews to sniff out toxic workplace culture?

Toxic workplace culture can be tough to spot early on. During interviews, it’s only natural for companies and candidates alike to put their best foot forward. More often than not, we learn the signs to spot from past experiences. However, asking the right questions can reveal what really happens behind the scenes and whether the environment may be unhealthy.

Keep reading to discover which interview questions can uncover the truth about company culture.

Questions that reveal the red flags (and what to watch out for)

“What does success look like here?”

• Why it matters: Clear expectations correlate with 47% less burnout, according to Gallup and WorkHuman.
• Look for: Specific metrics, milestones or examples of high-performing behaviour.
• Avoid: Broad or ambiguous phrases without contextual clarity e.g we expect above and beyond.

“What’s your approach to work-life balance?”

• Why it matters: Work-life support is strongly linked to engagement and retention. It also shows how much the company care about and respect their teams personal lives.
• Look for: Concrete policies, boundaries and flexibility.
• Avoid: Joking or dismissive responses implying burnout is welcome, or always on culture is expected.

“How would you describe the company’s communication culture?”

• Why it matters: Communication style impacts trust, collaboration and clarity.
• Look for: Open, transparent, inclusive dialogue and two-way communication.
• Avoid: Secretive, or hierarchical communication.

“How do you support employee growth?”

• Why it matters: Deloittes research into employee retention, says companies with strong learning cultures have 30-50% higher retention.
• Look for: Concrete programs like mentorship, learning budgets and internal mobility.
• Avoid: Generic statements like ‘we encourage learning’ without real examples.

“What happens when someone challenges the status quo or makes a mistake?”

• Why it matters: Reveals psychological safety and openness to feedback.
• Why it’s telling: Reveals how the company handles dissent and failure.
• Avoid: Defensiveness or failure to answer. This signals a lack of psychological safety

Key Takeaways

A job interview is a two-way audition, they’re evaluating you, you’re evaluating them. Ask questions boldly and listen closely. A little investigation can save you from stepping into a soul-sucking environment and help you step into one that nourishes growth and respect.