Community Forum Series: Your (Gas)Mask First: Toxin Handling in HR (December)

As Peter Frost, author of Toxic Emotions at Work, has said "there is a lot of suffering in the workplace and it shows little sign of letting up." Frost shares the concept of "toxin handlers," those in the organization who have the emotional intelligence to read and interpret the emotional needs of others and help absorb negativity. Frost further states that toxin handlers " are often careless with their own well-being in dangerous toxic situations. They … tend to override messages of self-protection or to ignore them and as a result, over time, the toxins they keep dealing with tend to spill into their own space and they can get emotionally or physically sick."

In a 2021 study, 80% of the participants exhibited signs of toxin handling. They were all HR managers.

In this session, we will cover the concept of toxin handling, the specific toxins HR teams handle, and 10 tips for HR professionals to manage toxins and still provide the empathy and support the business needs.

As a result of this session, participants will be able to:
- Understand the specific strains on HR and how these can be toxic
- Identify approaches for managing these toxins
- Apply their learnings to other parts of their business