This book examines the important role of HR practitioners acting as toxin handlers within their
organizations and the dangers they face when dealing with toxic workplace emotions caused by
difficult organizational decisions such as mergers and acquisitions staff reductions and
restructurings. Exploring what they do why they do it and the personal and professional
rewards created by the work it also examines the dangers that await them in terms of risks to
their personal well-being. In today's world layoffs harassment discrimination personality
conflicts or an abusive boss are just a few of the many types of workplace situations that can
generate intense emotional pain for employees-feelings like anger frustration stress
disappointment and even fear. Unfortunately these types of events are predictable and
somewhat inevitable but it is the way organizations handle them-or do not-that can create a
serious problem for employees. The responsibility often falls to HR to help troubled employees
reduce their emotional pain so that they can re-focus and get back to work as quickly as
possible resulting in positive organizational outcomes. This book highlights the balancing act
that HR must perform of caring for employees and championing their causes while at the same
time driving toward organizational goals set by senior leaders. The author demonstrates how
toxin handlers reduce organizational pain during tough times while also exploring the costs to
their own well-being. Readers will learn to minimize the negative impact of toxic emotions from
an organizational as well as individual perspective. This book will teach HR professionals
strategies about how to anticipate and navigate the organizational toxicity caused by some of
the inevitable and difficult people-related situations that are likely to come their way.
