‘MY EX-BOSS WAS A BULLY’ ADELLE ONYANGO ON LEAVING TOXIC JOB

Renowned media personality Adelle Onyango has opened up about her harrowing experience in a toxic work environment and it’s profound impact on her mental health.

Speaking on her Podcast, Onyango recounted the immense struggles she faced while working in a hostile work environment and the detrimental effects it had on her well-being. “Recently I was reminded of a time my life was working at this job. And the work environment was extremely toxic. It was terrible for my mental health. I had a boss who was a full blown bully. I had felt like I had reached that ceiling of this job. I couldn’t learn more I couldn’t grow further. But there’s also this mad fear of leaving a job because of how we view jobs as a society. We look at it as a badge of success. There’s a fear of the unknown.”

She lamented, highlighting the oppressive structures that hindered her creativity and personal growth. “Those were some of the most intense years of my life? I remember the point where I was like, Wait, fear or not, we have to leave this job. My anxiety about working in that space got so bad, that when my alarm would ring in the morning for me to get ready to go to work, I would run to the bathroom to throw up. That’s where my anxiety was. And I was just like, This is not healthy. I was constantly crying about this job.” 

Onyango emphasised that her decision to leave the toxic job was a pivotal moment in reclaiming her peace and pursuing her true calling. “There’s so much peace in my life now. I am doing what I love and building my business and it’s impactful. It’s a wonderful experience. As much as it has challenges. I feel like this is where I’m meant to be. I’m doing exactly what I’m meant to be doing.

There’s so much peace in my life so much so I love Sundays. Back when I worked at that job. On Sunday’s at about 1pm I would stay in bed longer than I should be or be on my couch that’s under duvet wishing that time will just slow down so that Sunday could be a bit longer so that Monday doesn’t come. That was not a way to live.”  

In 2019, Adelle quit her job at Kiss FM after seven years of working with the station.