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.