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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.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Coworker Left This In The Break Room Today, With His Name And Phone Number. Bold Move
RELATED:
#2
That's An Insufferable Perspective
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
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.
Floeckchen 5 months ago
Maybe she doesn't know. Maybe you can teach her like: "Thank you for counting the apparel. But let me show you a neat trick..."
#4
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.
Lost Penny 5 months ago (edited)
Whenever she posts about yet another fancy trip, leave a comment saying, "Where's the money, Lebowski??"
"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 Kept Using My Creamer. I Live On A Farm And He Knows It
My next step is to write breast milk.
#6
I Don't Get Irritated Easily By Double Parking, But One Of My Coworkers Does This Every Day In A Full Parking Lot
#7
I Have Been Writing A Fun Fact Every Week On An Unused Whiteboard At The Office. Someone Clearly Doesn't Like It
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
Brought This Pie To An Office Potluck. My Coworker Sliced It Like This And Took From The Middle
#9
Coworkers Keep Stealing My Work Breakfasts. Maybe This Flow Chart Will Solve The Issue
#10
The Way My Coworker Opens An Ice Bag. The Bag Literally Has A Drawstring
ohjojo (you/your's) 5 months ago
I had a woman working beneath me, so I was supposed to be training her but it was a lost cause because every bag she opened was torn thru. It was crazy and always a mess to clean up after.
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
#12
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.
#13
My Coworker Loves To Strike Out The Previous Day At Midnight. Someone Beat Him To It Tonight
#14
How My Coworkers Leave The Vacuum Cord
Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het 5 months ago
How can cord get that kinked? I need to straighten it out. Let me into the picture.
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
Out Of Dishwasher Detergent. Coworker Decided To Use Dish Soap
Floeckchen 5 months ago
I did the same when I was 6yrs old and wanted to help around the house
#16
The Surprise My Coworkers Left For Me
Learner Panda 5 months ago
Unplug it, walk over to another desk (preferably one of the idiots who did this) unplug their keyboard and substitute this one.
#17
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
ॐBoyGanesh 5 months ago (edited)
When I was between undergrad & grad school (young) & working at my first office job I had a plate of cookies given to me on my desk on a decorative plate with colored plastic wrap around it and ribbon with a bow. It was clearly a holiday gift. It disappeared. That night, my roommates gave me all the shake from their weed & I leaned to make really potent “pot oil.” I made a new batch of cookies & wrapped them like the previous and brought them to work. They sat on my desk all day & disappeared the following. All three mailroom guys went home “sick” that day. The following day, a Friday, I walked a letter that needed to be mailed to their area. Without elaborating, I simply said “glad you’re feeling better. I hope the next time it doesn’t kill you” and laughed like it was a joke. The following Monday there was a bakery made box of cookies on my desk. No one went to HR, no one made a scene.
#18
My Coworkers Are Idiots
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
Instant Red Flag
#20
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.
#21
Someone In The Office Ate My Snacks While I Was On Leave. They Even Left The Empty Packaging Inside My Drawer
#22
This Is My Office On Monday. It Will Remain Like This Until The Cleaning Staff Comes On Friday
Little Wonder 5 months ago
But.. the sponge and soap are RIGHT THERE. I didn't know offices hired entire teams of toddlers.
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
Told Coworker He Can Have Half Of My Reese’s. This Is How He Handed It Back
#24
The Number Of Times My Coworker Said "Obviously" In The Month Of April
#25
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.
#26
How My Coworker Opens A Box Of Gloves With A Perforated Top
#27
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.
Traveling Lady Railfan 5 months ago
Pour some boiling water in, let it sit for a little bit. Dump the water. Put a little bit of dish soap and a few generous finger-fulls of baking soda on a soft cloth. Use some firm pressure and wipe out the sides and bottom of the mug. Should come right out.
#28
The Way My Coworker Supported Stock On A Single Can Instead Of Breaking It All Down
#29
The Way My Coworker Labels Vials And Expects People To Be Able To Read Them
Nacho Man Sandy Ravage 5 months ago
It's the "I, seal, upside down axe, 83" vial.....thought that was obvious
#30
My Coworker Has At Least 25 Years Of Experience Over Me In Office Work
#31
Coworker "Fixed" A Hole In The Roof Of Our Truck. And Yes, All Those Tools Are Attached
#32
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.
#33
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!"
#34
The Way My Coworker Discards Their Cigarette Butts
#35
I Keep A Pack Of Gum In My Cubicle At Work. Tried To Grab A Piece And Discover This. I Hate My Coworkers
#36
A Coworker Ate Half My Sandwich And Had The Audacity To Leave The Other Half
#37
My Coworker Doesn't Have A Badge, So I Have To Open The Door For Him Every Day
Huddo's sister 5 months ago
This is more on the workplace honestly. My swipe card for work only opens the one building I run my afterschool program in (the school hall) and the outside gates. I can't even get into the main office after a certain time in the afternoon. Makes it awkward sometimes. The school are very reluctant to give out another card, so when I occasionally get to have someone work with me, they also have to text me to get in (or go through the school office, which is more annoying).
#38
Would Really Like To Thank My Generous Coworker For Leaving This For Me
#39
My Coworkers Dropped A Pallet And Left Me To Clean It Up
#40
That May Be Worse Than Microwaving Fish
#41
Actually Remembered To Bring My Lunch To Work. Coworker Didn't Remember To Close The Pepper
#42
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?
#43
My Coworker Was Asked To Cut The Cake Today At Work
Traveling Lady Railfan 5 months ago
Deliberately chaotic/eccentric or weaponized incompetence?
#44
This Is Donut Anarchy: My Friend's Coworker Cut A Piece Out Of Every Donut In The Box
Floeckchen 5 months ago
A bit weird but at least they used a knife. And they propably wanted to have a taste of each different one. Also they didn't take away too much. All the parts barely combine up to a whole donut.
#45
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?
#46
The Way My Coworkers Ate This Cake
Ample Aardvark 5 months ago
Next time bring individually packed cake, like they do for toddlers because your coworkers are clearly children
#47
My Coworker Lacks Common Sense A Lot Of The Time. Got To Work To Find This Email And A Half-Finished Job
#48
I Hate My Coworkers
#49
Every Week, My Coworker Only Eats This Much Of Her Peanut Butter And Jelly Sandwich Before Throwing It In The Garbage
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What do you think ?
Crescent 3 5 months ago
Another reason that I'm so thankful to work from home. It's also one of the reasons that I rarely ate "communal" food when I worked in an office. I kept my snacks locked in my desk, and my lunch in a sealed cooler. I had my own coffee maker and cup in my office. Some of these folks are just disgusting, lazy, self-absorbed children.
Jill 5 months ago
What's the deal with the way people cut cakes and pies? Jeez! Is it that hard to cut neat even pieces? ugh...
Ionescu Popa 5 months ago
i would say fabricated evidence to increase the neurosis in most cases and few instances of either complete morons or snubs "that take only one bite".
Load More Replies...
Tamara Kroonen 5 months ago
I don't understand the "coworker eat my lunch again" situation. If it was my lunch to be eaten, and for me to be left hungry, I would go home, paid of course. I would walk over to my boss and demand me to feed, or else I would go home. Because I cannot concentrate on working hungry. People need to face consequences or else it will repeat again. This would happen to me only one time. I won't suck it up and suffer. I would go to a higher placed manager or boss and let him handle it. Or I will go home eating and stay home. So my problem will be my boss's problem. This is how you end workfloor harrassment.
Crescent 3 5 months ago
Another reason that I'm so thankful to work from home. It's also one of the reasons that I rarely ate "communal" food when I worked in an office. I kept my snacks locked in my desk, and my lunch in a sealed cooler. I had my own coffee maker and cup in my office. Some of these folks are just disgusting, lazy, self-absorbed children.
Jill 5 months ago
What's the deal with the way people cut cakes and pies? Jeez! Is it that hard to cut neat even pieces? ugh...
Ionescu Popa 5 months ago
i would say fabricated evidence to increase the neurosis in most cases and few instances of either complete morons or snubs "that take only one bite".
Load More Replies... Tamara Kroonen 5 months ago
I don't understand the "coworker eat my lunch again" situation. If it was my lunch to be eaten, and for me to be left hungry, I would go home, paid of course. I would walk over to my boss and demand me to feed, or else I would go home. Because I cannot concentrate on working hungry. People need to face consequences or else it will repeat again. This would happen to me only one time. I won't suck it up and suffer. I would go to a higher placed manager or boss and let him handle it. Or I will go home eating and stay home. So my problem will be my boss's problem. This is how you end workfloor harrassment.
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