In a lifetime, where it’s estimated you’ll spend a total of 12 years at work, with 15 months of that over and above your contracted hours, there’s bound to be one or two things that send you over the edge when it comes to co-workers.
Check out our list of the top ten bad habits in the workplace and, more importantly, see if you’re guilty of any of them yourself!
Chronically late co-workers
That person who’s always late is bound to make your blood boil, especially if it’s for a shift changeover so you can go home! While everyone occasionally has problems with cancelled trains or snoozed alarm clocks, this person makes it a habit.
Sickie-pulling skivers
Is there anything worse than having to provide cover for someone who’s called in sick just because they’re hungover or can’t be bothered?
Fridge raiders
You go to make your 10am coffee only to find that someone has used the last of your milk. You’ve tried stickers, verbal warnings and even buying your own mini fridge, but somehow the midnight milk thief is still at it.
NOISY PEOPLE
If you work in a quiet office, sometimes it can be nice to break the silence. What’s not so nice is that person who is so loud on the phone you can’t hear yourself think, or your co-worker who insists on blasting out their favourite tunes while they work. Even worse are the knuckle crackers cracking knuckles, necks, anything in their body that shouldn’t naturally make that noise…
Private detectives
Ever felt like you were being watched? If you can feel someone lurking at the back of your chair, it might be that nosy co-worker. This time they’re investigating the curious case of ‘What are you writing in that email to the boss?’
Office police
They’re not your manager, in fact they’re not anybody’s manager, but that doesn’t stop them being the unofficial rule enforcer of the office. If they’re not sending passive aggressive emails, then they’re telling tales to the boss about what you’ve been up to- starting with that time you were a minute and a half late back from lunch.
Soup slurpers
It’s officially been named as Misophonia, the hatred of loud eaters, and if your co-worker slurping down their soup makes your hair stand on end you might be a sufferer.
Self-groomers
There’s a time and a place for preening. We know not everyone is a morning person and can find the time to put their face on before coming to work, but maybe leave the hairspray, perfume and highlighter touch-ups until lunchtime at least!
Mess makers
They leave their coffee cups in the sink and rubbish on their desk, expecting others to clean up after them. Do they think their mum works here?
Fishermen’s friends
As far as we’re concerned the rule ‘no fish in the office microwave’ should be written into contracts by HR. Pungent foods can be hard to ignore and linger in the office well into the afternoon, so leave them at home!
If your co-workers are driving you crazy, then maybe it’s time for a new job?
We can’t promise your new place will free of bad habits, but we do have hundreds of top jobs to choose from, search now on [site_name].