Many people struggle with unhealthy relationships at work, and such toxic cultures can have a ripple effect, management consultant, speaker and author Neri Karra Sillaman wrote in Fast Company.

A large majority—94 percent—of participants in a study published in the Harvard Business Review last year reported working with a toxic person in the previous five years. A 2021 study on workplace bullying found that 39 percent of American workers have been bullied at work.

Other research detailed the cost. One in five Americans left a job between 2014 and 2019 due to bad company culture, at an estimated cost of $223 billion, the Society for Human Resource Management found.

But it is possible to not only survive but also thrive in the face of a toxic work relationship, advised Sillaman, who is also a professor of practice and an entrepreneurship expert at the University of Oxford. “By learning and implementing certain strategies, we can manage the situation and regain our confidence and passion for our work,” she wrote. “These strategies may not magically transform a toxic relationship into a friendship, but they will equip us with the understanding, empathy, and resilience needed to address the situation effectively.”

Drawing on research evidence, her own experiences and the real-life stories of colleagues, Sillaman offered ways to deal with toxic relationships in the workplace and to find a way to work with just about anybody.

She urged taking responsibility and setting clear boundaries quickly, which is key to managing such situations and maintaining a healthy working environment. Failing to confront the person directly can perpetuate the problem and prevent resolution, she wrote, referring to a personal situation she had with an assistant who had been passed over for promotion to Sillaman’s position, and who subsequently began engaging in workplace behavior that undermined Sillaman’s authority.

“Nipping toxic behavior in the bud is also crucial because it prevents it from taking root and spreading through the workplace,” she wrote, citing Villanova University School of Business research, published in the Harvard Business Review, that found that “the unchecked abusive behaviors of individuals, especially leaders, can create a toxic culture through a ripple effect,” she wrote. In addition, “[y]oung professionals must be particularly careful to avoid becoming part of the problem if the first work culture that they are exposed to is a toxic one.”

Sillman also emphasized that “empathy is crucial in building positive working relationships with difficult colleagues, as it “can build a sense of connection and compassion, which can help to bridge any gaps and conflicts that may exist.”

Silliman used empathy in working with her resentful assistant. “By understanding her perspective, I was able to work with her and advocate for a title change that better reflected her contributions,” she wrote. “This open communication and empathy eventually led to great success in our work together.”

Silliman advocates documenting interactions and incidents when dealing with truly toxic relationships. “Scrupulously following correct protocols and documenting everything you do can [give] you the tools that you require to hold a colleague accountable for their toxic behavior,” she wrote. “A record of the other person’s behavior can be very useful if you need to escalate the issue to management or HR.”

Prioritizing physical and emotional well-being at all times, especially when dealing with a toxic colleague, is “crucial,” she wrote. That includes getting enough sleep and maintaining a healthy diet.

“Managing a toxic work relationship can be challenging, especially when you are just setting out on your career, but the strategies set out above can help,” Sillaman concluded. “By practicing empathy, setting boundaries that nip situations in the bud, documenting interactions, and prioritizing self-care, you can find ways to survive and thrive even when facing difficult circumstances. Doing so will help you personally and stop toxicity from spreading through the workplace, contributing to a healthier and happier environment for all.”