What The White Lotus Can Teach Us About A Toxic Workplace Culture
- Sandra
- Mar 31
- 4 min read
If you’ve been watching The White Lotus, you know it’s more than just a luxurious resort filled with drama, it also exposes the power dynamics, privilege, and the kind of interpersonal tension that can make or break a workplace. Sure, the show’s setting is a fancy hotel, but the issues it explores? They’re just as relevant to our day-to-day work lives.
As business owners, we can take a lot of valuable lessons from The White Lotus to help create healthier, more inclusive workplaces. Let’s take a look at a few big takeaways and how they can apply to your business.
1. Recognising Power Imbalances
One of the biggest things we see in The White Lotus is the stark power imbalance between the wealthy guests and the service staff. This isn’t just a luxury hotel issue, it’s something we find in many workplaces too. When employees feel like they don’t have a voice or that they’re treated as less than, it can create a toxic culture and workplace environment.
What Can We Do About It?
Whether you’re in a leadership role or not, it’s important to model respect for all employees. Leaders especially need to show that they value everyone’s contributions, no matter their role.
Employees who feel like they can speak up are more engaged and invested in the workplace. Create opportunities for feedback, and make sure everyone knows their opinions matter.
Instead of just giving orders, help employees feel empowered to contribute ideas and take on more responsibility. This builds trust and respect across all levels of your business.
2. Burnout and Toxic Work Culture
In the show, many of the staff members are pushed to their limits, dealing with gruelling hours, disrespectful guests, and a general lack of support. This is a textbook example of a toxic work environment, where employees are headed straight for burnout.
What Can We Do About It?
Pay attention to symptoms such as disengagement, irritability, or employees constantly overworked. Make sure managers are trained to spot the early signs of stress and burnout.
Promote flexibility in work arrangements where possible. Encourage taking time off and disconnecting when needed.
Offer resources such as an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and make it clear that mental health is just as important as physical health. Normalise using these resources so employees feel comfortable reaching out.
3. Understanding What Motivates Employees
In The White Lotus, we see that the characters’ motivations are driven by a mix of personal struggles, power, and seeking recognition. It’s the same in real life, employees are motivated by different things, and understanding what drives them is key to creating a thriving workplace.
What Can We Do About It?
It’s important to understand what motivates each individual on your team. Regular one-on-ones or employee surveys are great ways to get a feel for what’s important to your people.
Employees who feel seen and appreciated are more likely to stay engaged. Make sure to acknowledge both big and small wins and celebrate achievements.
People want to grow, it's human nature. Provide opportunities for skill development, promotions, or even new challenges. When employees feel like their careers are moving forward, they're much more likely to stay engaged and loyal.
4. Dealing with Conflict
Conflict is a huge theme in The White Lotus, especially when tensions between staff and guests, and even among the staff themselves, start to bubble over. The same thing happens in workplaces, unresolved conflicts can lead to a toxic culture and damage relationships.
What Can We Do About It?
If there’s tension between employees, it’s important to address it before it gets out of hand. Encourage open communication, and make sure there’s a process for resolving disputes.
Equip your team with tools and strategies to handle conflict constructively. We can help by offering training on effective communication and how to have difficult conversations.
Create an environment where employees feel comfortable airing concerns. This can prevent small issues from turning into bigger problems down the line.
5. Privilege and Diversity in the Workplace
The White Lotus also dives deep into privilege, whether it's the guests’ money or status, or even the employees’ own personal histories. This plays out in subtle but powerful ways, just like in workplaces where privilege can influence hiring, promotions, and day-to-day interactions.
What Can We Do About It?
It’s important to acknowledge privilege in the workplace. Educate employees and leadership about how privilege works and how it can influence behaviour and decision-making.
Implement inclusive hiring practices and make sure everyone feels like they belong. Diversity isn’t just about race or gender, it’s also about different experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives.
Take concrete actions to support underrepresented groups in your workplace. This could be through mentorship programs, diversity hiring initiatives, or providing a platform for those who might otherwise be overlooked.
The Takeaway
The White Lotus is a show filled with drama, but it’s also packed with important lessons that we can apply to the workplace.
So, the next time you watch The White Lotus, remember: the challenges faced by the characters aren’t just TV drama, they’re real-world issues we can tackle with the right mindset and action.
Need help? Contact us today - sandra@hrconsultingtas.com.au or 0408 408 225
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