Unfortunately, you can’t choose who you work with, and that’s why you have to play your role in providing a conducive working environment for your co-workers. DPH Legal have dealt with many cases of conflict between coworkers, so if in need of some free advice, give us a call.
It’s a general rule of thumb that if you don’t work, you won’t be able to sustain yourself. It’s not a must for people to like each other for work to get done. Here are some of the worst people to work with:
The Slacker
This is a toxic type of co-worker whose unique talents lie in avoiding work at all costs. They appear as if they are doing something, but in a real sense are more than happy to let their team members pick up the slack while they spend time online.
They typically are a negative virus that can spread throughout the workforce. Gossip and negativity are common traits. Management needs to be alert and stamp out any negativity as soon as possible.
Slackers are characterised by lacking motivation, absenteeism, poor timekeeping and generally don’t care what others think of them. They are a massive drain on everyone’s energy, time and enthusiasm.
The Socialite
This person is everybody’s friend and is always up to date with anything happening in the office be it a suspected affair, office romance or somebody getting fired.
They can be found on their phones or by the water cooler and will most assuredly start the chat. Their working hours are taken up with back-to-back conversions and endless coffee/lavatory breaks. This toxic employee is more concerned about office drama and lacks focus and professionalism in their job.
The Hothead
This one has a short fuse and you can’t differentiate if they are having a good or bad day. They have the inability of dealing with the unexpected calmly and rationally. These individuals are loud and can be seen shouting, screaming or swearing at the slightest provocation.
They are quite unpredictable with their default mood being anger.
Working alongside this sort of character can be terrifying since you don’t know the day they will go off on you.
You can also find them flailing their arms around in fuming rage.
If you don’t handle the situation wisely, then it will most probably take a toll on your personal life. Some characters can be emotionally draining and you find yourself thinking about their actions on your own personal time. One bad apple can completely ruin the entire office structure and overall yield.
Knowing how to deal with these elements in the workplace can prove to be the difference between success and failure. The world is filled with annoying, irritating people no matter where you go to work hence the best thing you can do is set clear boundaries, suck it up, and perform your duties.
Disclaimer: The contents of this article are for information purposes only and should not be relied upon as formal legal advice. We cannot accept responsibility for any loss as a result of acts or omissions taken in respect of this article. Specific legal advice should be sort tailored to the individual circumstances in all cases.
David Philip Harris is a recognised employment solicitor with over 10 years of experience in advising employees and employers on employment law matters. He is a frequent contributor to BBC Radio Berkshire and People Management Magazine. David has represented individual and corporate clients in the employment tribunal as well as the High Court and County Court. David is a member of The Law Society and The Employment Lawyers Association (ELA UK). To contact David, visit the Contact Us page. For media enquiries: info@dphlegal.com.