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Janet Mbugua calls out toxic workplace habits Kenyan companies need to stop
25th August, 2026 08:37 PM
Janet Mbugua has called out workplace habits she says are creating a toxic work culture in Kenyan companies.
She said yelling at employees and calling it feedback, as well as gaslighting working parents dealing with emergencies, are among the outdated practices that need to stop. Janet said there is a need to talk openly about toxic workplace culture and how it affects people.
“Yelling at the team and calling it feedback, gaslighting a working parent who has to tend to an emergency at their child’s school or at the hospital…these are just some of the outdated ways that create a toxic work culture, and we need to talk about it!” Janet Mbugua said on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, while speaking on TikTok.
Janet said the discussion around toxic workplaces should go beyond long working hours. She explained that many people have come out online to talk about what they are experiencing at work. According to her, these experiences show that workplace culture needs to be discussed in a wider way.
“A lot of people have come out online talking about what is happening to them. We need to define it beyond long working hours,” Janet Mbugua said.
Calling out toxic workplace culture
Janet said yelling at a team should be recognised as toxic instead of being presented as normal workplace feedback. She explained that the way people are treated at work matters when discussing workplace culture. She also said employees should not have to reduce themselves because of the culture around them.
“If you are yelling at your team, that is toxic. When you have to reduce yourself …we need to stop treating toxic workplaces like the prize,” Janet Mbugua said.
Janet also spoke about working parents who may need to leave work or attend to emergencies involving their children. She said gaslighting a working parent in such situations is one of the outdated ways that can contribute to a toxic workplace.
The media personality also said workplace culture can affect people who are already struggling with their mental health. She called for these issues to be openly addressed instead of being ignored.
“A lot of people are struggling with their mental health; we need to call it out,” Janet Mbugua said.
Janet said the conversation about toxic workplace culture needs to continue. She maintained that Kenyan companies need to stop outdated practices that create unhealthy work environments.
