Unfortunately, we have all experienced our fair share of annoying colleagues, and if you haven’t, I think it’s safe to say you were that annoying colleague!!
From multiple surveys and questionnaires online, we have collected the information and surmised our own list of the most annoying work behaviours and habits that can appear in any workplace!
- Smelly Food
Although some of these foods may be your favourite, or are part of a particular diet, it is best to avoid anything that has an overpowering smell.
Your colleagues will not appreciate the workplace being smelly because of your lunch, nor the fact that it will linger… for a while.
- Talking Loudly on the phone
Personal or work calls should be kept at a sensible volume, talking so loudly that everyone can hear each detail is unnecessary. It’s disruptive and creates a negative feeling around the person is doing it. If you have to speak at higher volume, it is best to take it somewhere private.
- Not cleaning up after themselves
Your workplace is not your home, it is a communal shared space. Your colleagues are not there to either live with your mess or clean up after you, even the cleaner shouldn’t be clearing up unnecessary mess. Even if you are naturally a messy person, you need to make a conscious effort to wash things up, push your chair in, clean up any food that you’ve been eating.
- Body odour
Understandably body odour can be a medical issue, that isn’t always fixable. However, trying to prevent the odour is always appreciated – keeping good hygiene is essential when working in a closer environment with colleague’s especially if you work involves physical labour.
- Messy workspace
Keeping your tools / paperwork neat on your work area should be commonplace, as it will help you work more efficiently, also you are less likely to have anything spilling over onto any of your colleague’s workspace.
- Staying too long in the toilet (repeatedly)
No one can stop anyone from going to the toilet if needed, even if it is for a slightly longer period of time. Though it is noticed if these breaks are more frequent and lasting longer than 15 minutes. If you have a toilet issue, then you need to go home, if this is something that is happening daily then you need to either see a doctor or try to hold it.
- Excessive chitchat
As much as everyone loves having a reason not to work, having a repeated interruption just so someone can talk to you is rather annoying. If you are talking to someone and they are giving you one word replies or are doing work whilst you are talking, they are trying to give subtle hints that they no longer wish to carry on this conversation… Take the hint!
- Taking longer on breaks than most (repeatedly)
If you take frequent cigarette breaks, or are always late back from your lunch, it will be noticed. This will aggravate your colleagues and cause resentment to build up, you will also gain a reputation as someone who does a lot less work.
- Changing office temperature
Office temperature wars are renowned in every company. There are the people who are too hot, and the people who are too cold and they will never be comfortable if the other is in charge of the thermostat.
If you are one of those people who complains about their temperature but doesn’t dress accordingly (too little clothes but cold or too many layers but hot) then you will create enemies.
If you are prone to feeling one temperature more strongly than others you will need to accommodate yourself as much as you can before you request for the whole workplace temperate to change just for you.
Although some of these may just come naturally to some of us, it always best to curb any irritating habits you have when working with colleagues.
These are people that you will need to spend 35 – 50 hours a week with, and also work cooperatively and successfully with. Building feelings of dislike and disgruntled colleagues is not a productive atmosphere, everyone just needs to learn to get along!
