Would you work here? 5 signs of a healthy workplace

If you’re like most Americans, you’ll spend one-third of your life working. And that doesn’t account for commuting time, which averages 26 minutes each way, or nearly an hour a day.

When you spend all those hours with motivated colleagues who empower and inspire you, you'll look forward to clocking in. But when you’re surrounded by managers who belittle and micromanage you, your emotional state can take a major hit, says Vicki Salemi, a New York City-based career expert for Monster. In an April 2024 poll, her team found that 67% of American workers feel like their job environment is toxic.

No job will ever be perfect, but Salemi says there are green and red flags to watch for during your job hunt and after you're hired that can signal whether you're at a top workplace or a toxic one.

Want a better boss? See USA TODAY's list of top-ranked workplaces.

Here are five signs of a healthy workplace:

1. Inclusion, fair pay and reasonable hours

Salemi says diversity and inclusion will be at the forefront of any positive work culture.

“A healthy workplace does not discriminate,” she explains. “It is inclusive and treats everyone fairly and equally.”

In the job-hunting or interview process, consider scanning the leadership page. Is it composed of varying ethnicities, ages, and gender identities? That’s likely a green flag.

In addition, Salemi says that a healthy workplace “pays everyone what they're worth in the marketplace.”

If staff is underpaid and overworked, it will show in their performance, she notes. If employees are frequently sick, make mistakes, or if there’s high turnover, that’s a bad sign.

2. Leadership that communicates

Top execs should be accessible, communicate frequently, and hold themselves accountable, Salemi says.

“Healthy environments typically stem from the top with effective leaders with morals and ethics who demonstrate company values,” she explains.

A telltale sign of healthy leadership is when executives directly address workers' anxiety over layoffs or economic uncertainty.

“They should be authentic and as transparent as they can be,” Salemi notes.

She explains that leadership can address concerns in a few ways, like company-wide messaging straight from the CEO, all-hands department meetings, and smaller, one-on-one meetings between managers and direct reports.

“They should address the elephant in the room by saying they realize there's a lot of uncertainty from layoffs,” Salemi says. “Employees will feel seen and heard. Leaders may want to talk about growth, or stagnancy if that's the case; revenue, and where the company is positioned in relation to the industry as a whole.”

3. Clear-cut path for growth

When employees have a solid understanding of how to earn a promotion, that’s a big green flag, Salemi says.

She adds that it starts in the application process: “Job descriptions won’t be vague; there are tangible steps and responsibilities.”

She notes that a healthy workplace will provide many career opportunities and clearly defined paths toward promotions.

What’s more, she says, a healthy workplace will guide employees in reaching those goals, too. “They provide training and growth opportunities for employees to expand their skill sets and blossom in their careers.”

Salemi says it’s a sign that the company wants employees to stick around long-term and is invested in their growth alongside the business.

4. Flexibility at work

Though return-to-office mandates have been on the upswing, Salemi says that work flexibility is still a major perk to look for.

“This could mean working remotely or four-day workweeks. Flexibility is just that—it's flexible,” she says. “Our data has consistently shown over the past several years that flexibility—not only where they work, but also when they work—is a top priority for workers.”

Of course, you might not have a ton of power over your work situation—in that case, employers might show flexibility in other ways. Do managers gladly push out deadlines when, say, a sick kid needs to be picked up from school? Understanding that workers have lives outside of work is key, Salemi says.

5. Safe spaces to speak up

Safety is highly important, Salemi notes. Employees should feel empowered to speak up and address issues while feeling seen, heard, and safe.

“They need to know there won’t be retaliation,” she says.

She cites Monster data that 77% of workers have witnessed some type of workplace discrimination, while 28% didn’t feel comfortable reporting an incident to human resources. “Both sets of numbers are rather high,” Salemi says.

Importantly, Salemi says, the problems caused by toxic work environments don’t just get resolved overnight.

“It takes time," she says, "and the company and its leaders need to be conscious and intentional about moving the needle to a healthy one,” she explains. "Often when there's a toxic situation, one of the best ways to change it is to leave for much healthier, better workplaces.”

If you’re navigating a tough work culture and can’t necessarily leave, rely on your inner circle.

“Surround yourself with supportive, loving family and friends ... as well as mental health counselors you can rely on,” she says. “Take care of yourself, first and foremost.”

What is USA TODAY Top Workplaces 2025?

If you're looking for a job with a healthier workplace culture, we can help. Each year, USA TODAY Top Workplaces, a collaboration between Energage and USA TODAY, ranks organizations across the U.S. that excel at creating a positive work environment for their employees. Employee feedback determines the winners.

In 2025, over 1,500 companies earned recognition as top workplaces. Check out our overall U.S. rankings. You can also gain insights into top-ranked regional employers by checking out the links below.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 5 signs of a good company