They have been called many things: toxic, negative, dysfunctional, narcissistic, territorial, sociopathic, demotivating, vampire-like. The words describe employees—from CEOs on down to mid-level managers and their subordinates—who tear through an office, disrupting everyone’s work environment and leaving a path of destruction in their wake before finally moving on, like a hurricane.

Hurricane employees are nothing new; most people have encountered some version of them during their working lives. But human resources practitioners and experts alike suggest that today’s business climate is more susceptible to their influence.

Studies show that recruiters spend an average of five to seven seconds looking at résumés, focusing mainly on previous experience and salary requirements. Today’s job seekers have learned to game the online application system by using words they know will trigger interest in their résumés. Candid reference checks beyond a person’s name and employment confirmation are rare. In short, it’s harder than ever to predict whether a new hire will meet the company’s needs or sabotage the company’s culture.

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