Call it engagement, fulfillment, or happiness, but a workplace can have a huge impact on our well-being and sense of purpose.
However, there are plenty of potential detractors that can make even an enjoyable job a living hell, such as a lack of recognition, a messed up work-life balance, and, of course, toxic colleagues.
So, in an attempt to remind you just how important the people around us are, we at Bored Panda have put together a collection of annoying employees who do nothing but test everyone's patience.
#1 I Asked A Coworker To Count And Tally Up Some Apparel For Me. This Is What I Got
I’m still glad she did it, but you’re supposed to make each 5th tally a slash through the previous four, in order to easily count by groups of 5 when totaling.
I assumed that was common knowledge, but maybe it isn’t.
Image credits: LorenzoTheGawd
#2 Coworker Left This In The Break Room Today, With His Name And Phone Number. Bold Move
Image credits: jamaicajosh
According to research by Quality Logo Products, around 90% of Americans have a coworker who annoys them, and 57% of people have even considered quitting because of them.
Psychologist Daniel Goleman, author of the bestselling book 'Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ,' says that handling these colleagues has less to do with how you treat them and more to do with how you prepare yourself.
The most important things, Goleman points out, are self-awareness and self-management.
#3 That's An Insufferable Perspective
Image credits: alyssaleann
#4 Coworker Kept Using My Creamer. I Live On A Farm And He Knows It
My next step is to write breast milk.
Image credits: wolphcry
"It's important to know what you're feeling and how it shapes your perceptions, your motivations, your actions, and whether it harms your performance or not," the psychologist says.
"This leads you to recognize what is going on."
By identifying what exactly triggers us, we can better anticipate them and regulate ourselves.
#5 Coworker Keeps Avoiding Paying Me Back After She Conveniently Forgot Her Wallet At Dinner
A few weeks ago I decided to grab some dinner with a coworker. I rarely go out to eat as it's so expensive these days, but I finally decided to treat myself one night. My coworker ordered appetizers for herself, multiple drinks, a larger dinner and even dessert. When it came time to pay, we were each going to just pay for our food but she conveniently forgot her wallet and just sat there staring at me. I’m an awkward person and I really didn’t want to cover her food in the moment because it was more than I could even afford but it was such a weird situation and she promised to pay me back, so to just end the evening I covered her bill expecting to get reimbursed.
That was weeks ago and she keep posting on social media about going out to fancy restaurants or weekend trips but she always has an excuse when I ask to be paid back. I barely make a livable wage and being in the red because of her has caused me so much anxiety, I feel like such an idiot.
Image credits: reveal_time_bfedit
#6 Brought This Pie To An Office Potluck. My Coworker Sliced It Like This And Took From The Middle
Image credits: Heggers_1
#7 I Don't Get Irritated Easily By Double Parking, But One Of My Coworkers Does This Every Day In A Full Parking Lot
Image credits: ChqMate
If these things persist and take a considerable toll on us, Goleman suggests giving yourself a little pep talk before going into the office.
"Okay, I'm going to spend two hours with this person who I know triggers me. It’s just this person, it’s not me. And I don’t have to react," he gives an example.
You can also "prepare your physiology" with various practices, such as box breathing.
"This actually shifts your physiology from sympathetic nervous system arousal, which is the stress and anxiety mode, to parasympathetic, which is the relax and recover mode," he says.
#8 I Have Been Writing A Fun Fact Every Week On An Unused Whiteboard At The Office. Someone Clearly Doesn't Like It
Image credits: RealSlugFart
#9 Coworkers Keep Stealing My Work Breakfasts. Maybe This Flow Chart Will Solve The Issue
Image credits: dolo_ran6er
#10 The Way My Coworker Opens An Ice Bag. The Bag Literally Has A Drawstring
Image credits: shaynaa3
By recognizing how our annoying coworker bothers us and preparing to deal with them, we can recover more quickly.
"You can't control what in life is going to trigger you," Goleman says. "But you can control how long you stay triggered and how long you are upset."
#11 Time To Find A New Job. Or At Least New Coworkers
Image credits: LarrySwarez
#12 My Coworkers Are Idiots
Image credits: Rick-the-Brickmancer
#13 How My Coworkers Leave The Vacuum Cord
Image credits: spider_manectric
#14 Out Of Dishwasher Detergent. Coworker Decided To Use Dish Soap
Image credits: Mortivoreeee
A new study by Kickresume found that these five types of coworkers are the most irritating:
- Credit Stealer (33%);
- Micromanager (32%);
- Chronic Complainer (30%);
- Personal Space Intruder (30);
- Lunch Thief (27%).
#15 My Coworker Loves To Strike Out The Previous Day At Midnight. Someone Beat Him To It Tonight
Image credits: Ak47110
#16 The Surprise My Coworkers Left For Me
Image credits: Youneedus
#17 This Is My Office On Monday. It Will Remain Like This Until The Cleaning Staff Comes On Friday
Image credits: smartfold007
#18 My 2 Coworkers Left 45 Minutes Early On A Holiday Weekend, Leaving Me With All These Dishes
I'm a head closer so I cannot leave until all of the work is done or I get in trouble. I'm going to be letting my boss know tomorrow when he asks why I was there an hour over my scheduled time.
Image credits: Ima_nerd_and_proud
The study also discovered that 62% of respondents face their annoying coworkers directly in the office, making it the top spot for these frustrations.
But it doesn’t end there. Bothersome colleagues appear no matter if you're working in-person or remotely.
Written communication, such as emails and Slack messages, is a significant source of annoyance for 44% of employees. Furthermore, annoying coworkers can also ruin phone calls (37%) and video calls (29%).
#19 This Is How A Coworker Parks Every Day
I work at a national auto parts retailer. There’s only a handful of spots to start with then there’s this to deal with.
Image credits: Plastic_Ad_1459
#20 Someone In The Office Ate My Snacks While I Was On Leave. They Even Left The Empty Packaging Inside My Drawer
Image credits: kittysogood
#21 The Way My Coworker Labels Vials And Expects People To Be Able To Read Them
Image credits: pizzunk
#22 First Day Back In The Office. Bought A Dozen Krispy Kreme Donuts To Take Home To Family. Went For Lunch And Someone Took Them From My Desk
Image credits: gachunt
When faced with behaviors you see in the pics, the biggest share of people — 32% to be precise — prefer to distance themselves from the culprit. I guess we really really are conflict-avoidant!
For more, check out our previous publications 50 People Share Just How Annoying Their Coworkers Really Are and 50 People Having A Miserable Day Thanks To Their Evil Coworkers.
#23 Someone Poured Milk In The Coffee Machine At My Office
I don't even mind that someone made a coffee with milk, but what bothers me is that this person left a mess behind for someone else to clean up, and no one is admitting that they did it.
Image credits: Slyvix
#24 Told Coworker He Can Have Half Of My Reese’s. This Is How He Handed It Back
Image credits: amicoolyet111
#25 My Coworker Doesn't Have A Badge, So I Have To Open The Door For Him Every Day
Image credits: SeriousShadz
#26 How My Coworker Opens A Box Of Gloves With A Perforated Top
Image credits: reddit.com
#27 The Way My Coworker Discards Their Cigarette Butts
Image credits: xXDoctor_PoopyXx
#28 The Way My Coworker Supported Stock On A Single Can Instead Of Breaking It All Down
Image credits: what_it_dooo
#29 My Coworker Left His Tooth On The Desk. Again
I work at a front desk, so have to share the same one and this is the 2nd time he's done it. He claims he takes it out when he eats.
Image credits: PizzaGuyNYC
#30 The Number Of Times My Coworker Said "Obviously" In The Month Of April
Image credits: camly75
#31 Coworker "Fixed" A Hole In The Roof Of Our Truck. And Yes, All Those Tools Are Attached
Image credits: 4buckbox
#32 Coworkers Used My Mug As A Pen Holder In My Absence
Finally got cold, went looking for my mug and found it like this. This is as clean as I could get it.
Image credits: Calligaster
#33 Instant Red Flag
Image credits: Noellenarwhal
#34 My Coworker Has At Least 25 Years Of Experience Over Me In Office Work
Image credits: HumanAft3rA11
#35 People Meet Outside My Office And Leave Chairs Blocking My Door. Left A Note Asking Them To Stop, Note Intact But Door Still Blocked
The note says: "It's no big deal to meet out here, but when you are done, please put the chair back and don't leave it blocking my door. Thank you!"
Image credits: drhyphy
#36 That May Be Worse Than Microwaving Fish
Image credits: Cornjerker78
#37 I Keep A Pack Of Gum In My Cubicle At Work. Tried To Grab A Piece And Discover This. I Hate My Coworkers
Image credits: maidafossetta
#38 My Coworkers Dropped A Pallet And Left Me To Clean It Up
Image credits: DriftSnow
#39 Actually Remembered To Bring My Lunch To Work. Coworker Didn't Remember To Close The Pepper
Image credits: writtennred
#40 I Hate My Coworkers
Image credits: Rigamix
#41 Every Week, My Coworker Only Eats This Much Of Her Peanut Butter And Jelly Sandwich Before Throwing It In The Garbage
Image credits: Johny_Covelli
#42 Would Really Like To Thank My Generous Coworker For Leaving This For Me
Image credits: TheNeverEndingEnding
#43 My Coworker Was Asked To Cut The Cake Today At Work
Image credits: clintj1975
#44 The Way My Coworkers Ate This Cake
Image credits: SourdoughPizzaToast
#45 A Coworker Ate Half My Sandwich And Had The Audacity To Leave The Other Half
Image credits: SusTrucker
#46 No One Puts The Dishes Away In The Communal Office Sink
It looks like this every day. The dishwasher is directly next to this sink. Are my coworkers this lazy? Do they not realize there is not a maid here to clean up after them? Or just completely disrespectful?
Image credits: SoothingWombat
#47 Job Was Supposed To Be Done Today. Coworker Brought And Installed The Wrong Door. Guess Who Has To Waste Two Hours To Fix It Tomorrow?
Image credits: peppercupp
#48 This Is Donut Anarchy: My Friend's Coworker Cut A Piece Out Of Every Donut In The Box
Image credits: thatpaulallen
#49 Coworker Said We Couldn't Use The Warmer Because It Was "Already Being Used"
Image credits: Tobelerone1
#50 My Coworker Lacks Common Sense A Lot Of The Time. Got To Work To Find This Email And A Half-Finished Job
Image credits: graypupon
