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Some coworkers are just God sent. You make best friends, you fall in love, you meet your idols, you find your team players to climb up that long career ladder with. They make your lunch breaks less lonely, meetings funnier and deadlines… well, the deadlines are the same no matter what.
But sometimes your coworkers are just the opposite. They make doing your job harder than it already is, and everything in between way less enjoyable. If you are dealing with a coworker like that, let me tell you, you are not the only one. There are millions of people out there handling the most annoying, irrational, or even plain evil colleagues because… well, because it's what you’re supposed to do, right?
So if you're too tired to deal with this on your own, this post compiled by Bored Panda is a safe place to vent and talk about hard things. Pull your seat closer and scroll through the stories about coworkers from hell by sharing your own experiences in the comments below!
And when you're done, more stories about difficult coworkers await in our previous features here and here.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
All Of My Coworkers Agreed To Dress Up As Smurfs For Halloween. I'm The Only One To Go Through With It
#2
My Coworker Told Me That Everyone Dressed Up At My Office. Now I’m The Only Person Dressed Like Captain Kirk Amongst Khakis And Polo Shirts
#3
Yesterday This Guy Put Ghost Pepper Popcorn In Our Industrial Microwave At Work For Over 5 Minutes. The Office Was Filled With Black Smoke Burning People's Eyes
No one could breathe. He basically maced the building. We were moved to the other end so we could keep working.
Bored Panda spoke with Christine Mitterbauer, a licensed and ICF-approved career coach and serial entrepreneur who shared some great insights on dealing with difficult coworkers. So pull your seat closer.
Mitterbauer said that “it’s important that you stand your ground and don’t let yourself be intimidated by difficult coworkers, whether they’re negative, talking down to you, or making your work difficult in any other way.”
“Of course, you can try to interact as little as possible with the coworker, but that isn’t always possible,” the career coach added. Moreover, a great skill to practice is becoming better at having difficult conversations, she said.
#4
As A Practical Joke, Some Co-Workers Wrapped My Office In Foil. In The Process, My 30" LCD Monitor Was Accidentally Turned On, And It Boiled Itself
Here's what it looked like when I unwrapped it
Bernd Herbert 2 years ago (edited)
I really hate such blatant waste of resources. The monitor, the tin foil
#5
My Coworkers Have A Sick Sense Of Humor
#6
My Coworker Lied To My Boss That I Could Cover His Shift
iBlank 2 years ago
I worked for a temp agency and one of my contracts expired, so I was on-call for the next job. I got a call asking why I didn't show up for work. No one told me that they extended the previous contract. They threatened to fire me, until I spoke to someone above the scheduler.
Stephanie Paich 2 years ago
My best friend's husband once took his personal days off next to his vacation bid so they had enough time to visit me (I live a 20 hour drive away). He told them the reason he needed them all in a row because they don't often let people take the days next to vacation like that. But they agreed and they STILL called him the day after they arrived at my place to ask if he could cover a shift. He was like "did you miss the part where I said I'd be 20 hours away for a week? No."
Elizabeth Ruppert 2 years ago
The liar should be penalized at the very least, with a subsequent offense resulting in termination
Skylar Jaxx 2 years ago
This offense I would terminate. Lie on a coworker n no call no show didn't call out didn't show. someone covering is not a call out. It's a help out so technically they ncns n I'm going to go ahead and get rid of that hassle now.
Load More Replies... Susan Kiser 2 years ago
I can’t stand a liar. Anytime I’ve agreed to cover someone we went to our supervisor together so everyone is on the same page. Many places make you sign a written statement. I keep a voice recorder app on my homepage of my cell. I can grab my phone and begin recording a conversation I feel I may need for self protection. I’ve also downloaded apps that record calls. They record both sides of the conversation. I save texts I may need also. I’m a firm believer in CYA
Zachary Gillette 2 years ago
Geez, at this point I want to lie to you out of sport. How to get away with it...
Load More Replies...
Andy Frobig 2 years ago
I bet this started years ago with "Ask your mother." "She already said I could!"
HarriMissesScotland 2 years ago
This happened to me just before Christmas. When I was asked about covering part of the shift, I said, that I couldn't since I was 600 miles away.
Nimues Child 2 years ago
A co-worker of my wife called her in ON HER VACATION to take care of a ticket that he could have easily done simply because he wanted to go to an office party at that time. He is no longer is a co-worker but is now an abject lesson about how to contribute to a toxic workplace.
C.J. Robinson 2 years ago
Sorry, dude, I’m 5,000 miles away at the moment…
Load More Replies...
Nightshade1972 2 years ago
At one point, I was going to school during the day, and working nights/weekends as a grocery cashier. Can't tell you the number of times I was awakened early on a school day by one of my managers wanting to know if I wanted to come in early. When I'd groggily remind them that I had the schedule I did because I was in school, they'd hurriedly apologize and hang up.
Alesha Folsom 2 years ago
At my former job, we each had to sign a paper. The one who needed a shift covered and the one agreeing to cover the same shift, and then turn it in to our manager. Then there's no question about accountability.
Janet Graham 2 years ago
I hate that kind of c**p from co-workers. It more than undermines morale, it actively breaks any trust you might have had.
El Constipado 1 year ago
Your boss should have confirmed with you first b4 giving your co-worker the go ahead to skip their shift.
Jodie daubenmire 2 years ago
I lost a job of 12 years, when my lead nurse's new girl friend did the very same thing. Obviously they took her side, as she was there for 3 months..and doing the boss.
Givemeabreak101 1 year ago
Every place I've ever worked shift trades had to be in writing and approved.
Picklesrnoturfriends 1 year ago
In my main job, I am not allowed to use my cell phone, so I turn it off during work hours. I can't tell you how many times the other jobs I have called during my work hours and then text when I don't answer. They know when I get off and STILL don't respect my requests to not call me during certain hours of the day. The Christmas week was horrible because I had mandatory overtime with my main job and let the other jobs know. One of them was fine with it but the 2nd one was stupid. So, I never called them back or answered the texts until like 2 am. If they can't respect my time I won't respect theirs.
Mtg Wolfie 2 years ago
Lying 101. Always cover your bases. Learn about people. Figure out who has a valid defense against your lie.
Kiryn Silverwing 2 years ago
Unless he's the one lying about it. Changing his story partway through to "I'm just texting everyone now" makes me suspicious.
Load More Replies...
When dealing with difficult coworkers, always focus on the behavior you would like to address and which is bothering you, and never go down the road of stating negative traits or characteristics about that person, Mitterbauer argues.
“Stick to negative behavior as that’s more objective and can more easily be verified by everyone involved. Practice exactly what you want to say beforehand, and consider getting other allies on board as well. Sometimes it is necessary to involve management, but it’s often better to only do this once you can demonstrate to the manager what you yourself have attempted to tackle the issue,” she explained.
#7
I Work At A Place Where At The End Of Shifts We Split The Tips Evenly Between The 2-3 People That Work
We had more than 50$ of tips today and my coworker had to leave about 10 minutes early. She ended up taking all but ~2.50$ and management won't do anything about it.
#8
Someone Brought This To The Office Potluck
#9
It's Always A Pleasure To Realize That Your Coworkers Don't Know How To Close A Box Properly... Right When You're Ready To Go Home
Most people have had coworkers they don’t get along with, Mitterbauer continues, but she says there’s a difference between not being great friends and them making your working life miserable. “When their behavior starts affecting your work and/or you are thinking about this issue in your free time, possibly dreading going to work the next day, that’s when it becomes an issue.”
#10
Coworker Announced That She And Her SO Are Finally Pregnant, I Got Her A Box Of Pastries To Celebrate And When I The Party Was About To Start I Open The Fridge At Work And See This
#11
My Coworker Put Straight Printer Ink In One Of My Gloves At Work. This Will Take A Week Or Two Minimum To Come Off
#12
Apparently Someone Has Been Munching My Donuts And It Was Supposed To Be For My Kids After Work
#13
Came Back To Work So See This Prominently Displayed In A Coworker’s Cube
#14
Coworkers Not Cleaning Their Hands Before Using The Oven Mitts
#15
This Is How My Coworker Avoids Taking Out His Garbage
#16
I Won A $5 Bet Against My Coworker. I Came Into The Work This Morning To Find This On My Desk. Thanks, Brad
#17
My Colleague Drove With Me In My Company Vehicle. She Left This Piece Of Gum On The Door
Scout Finch 2 years ago
Tell her she left something in the car or return it by smashing it in the middle of her forehead, but then you'd have to find a way to extract it.
#18
Coworker Didn't Know How To Take A Screenshot And Decided To Photocopy The Phone
#19
My Colleague's Desktop
Eva Bryson 2 years ago
And then they complain to the IT staff about how slow their computer is.
#20
My Coworker Never Shuts Sharpies All The Way And Wonders Why They Dry Out
#21
My Coworker Hasn’t Washed Their Coffee Mug In Years
#22
So Remember My Coworker's Coffee Mug From A Few Weeks Back. Here's The Keyboard
#23
My Coworker Decided To Put Two Kinds Of Candies Together
#24
Coworkers Keep Stealing My Stapler At Work. I've Made It Clear It's Not To Leave My Desk
#25
Coworker Hit My Car And Acted As If She Didn't Know Who Hit It
#26
I Think My Coworker Doesn't Like Sharing Anymore
Sleazy Weaver 2 years ago
maybe YOU'RE the a*****e coworker if you think you can just go through your coworker's snacks to the point where they have to write notes to keep you out.
#27
My Colleagues, Everyone
#28
While Looking For A File In My Coworker's Drawer, I Found This. Thing
#29
My New Coworker's Company Rental Car
#30
Coworkers Replacing The Paper Towel Roll
#31
Found At The Communal Coffee Pot At My Corporate Office
#32
This Is At My Work. She Does This Every Single Day
#33
Coworker Walks Around The Office Barefoot
#34
Coworker Forgot Something In His Work Truck
#35
My Coworker Eats His Pickles Like A Psychopath
#36
A Coffee Pot That I Discovered In A Coworker's Office. Wonder What The Inside Is Like At This Point
Laura Mende (Human) 2 years ago
AURGH!!!!! Please tell me this was a lockdown-related accident...
#37
My Coworker Has Been Complaining About Lack Of Available Space On Her Work Computer
#38
The Side Of My Coworkers Desk Where They Leave Dead Skin And Nail Clippings
#39
The Way My Coworkers Cut This Cake
#40
My Coworker Stocks The Coolers At My Work, And His Dandruff Is On Every Single Can
#41
Someone Cut The Tops Off The Cinnamon Crunch Bagels At The Office
#42
When You Are Off For Christmas But Your Colleagues Have To “Work”
#43
My Colleagues Marked My Lost Safety Goggles With Permanent Marker
Dave Smith 2 years ago
Just go over the writing with a dry wipe marker and then wipe with a paper towel. Comes straight off
#44
When Your Coworker Tries To Take Two Pallets Down At A Time With A Forklift
Alex Boomhower 2 years ago
Someone broke one box of beer. It smelled awful. I can't even begin to imagine how terrible it must smell here
#45
A Coworker Tried To Sharpen My Good Kitchen Knifes With An Angle Grinder
#46
My Coworker Made Sour Cream And Onion Pringles Cake. Oh God Why
#47
The Interior Of A Coworker's Truck. Just The Tip Of The Iceberg With This Gentleman
#48
Office Mates Chair
#49
My Coworker Needs Her Office Grocery Privileges Taken Away
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Stephanie Paich 2 years ago
The straight up theft irritates me. If you didn't pay for it then you can't have it unless someone says you can have it. You're actually making it harder for people to pay their bills.
phil blanque 2 years ago
So many of these hurtful "pranks" indicate an extremely unhealthy work environment, with people taking out their despair and hatefulness on their colleagues. Management should take this very seriously and remove these people from the workplace. The human capacity for revenge and retribution is unlimited...these behaviors will spread.
CA3 2 years ago
Then again, it may be one of the ways these people choose to lighten up the atmosphere in their stressful work environments. I've found it helpful to avoid assuming the worst of a situation.
Load More Replies...
Lynn Stultz 2 years ago
Yup. This list made me mad. That many people sucking is kinda depressing.. considering it's just a drop in the bucket.
Izabela Wilson 2 years ago
The only good thing that came with pandemics was the privilege to work from home. People sucks. Passive-agressive children and pigs like these ones, specially.
Thecoolbonnie 2 years ago
The gross cars and personal hygiene issues almost made me puke.... I'm not super a**l about cleanliness, but COME ON
Freya the Wanderer 2 years ago
There should be a special place in Hell for some of these people!
Load More Replies...
ʕ º ᴥ ºʔ 2 years ago
thank you so much! I didn't realise there were usernames and so now I will reread this post and others from now on! again, thanks!!
Load More Replies...
Glasia van Duivels 2 years ago
there was once at work someone in the UK didnt want a B day party due to panic attacks when surprise, they did anyways the worker sued them for almost half a million and won.
Bryan GC 2 years ago
There was this time I was working in an office and they did a practical joke, covering all my stuff in plastic wrap and tape. When I arrived I just sat there, doing nothing. They were laughing their asses off, but I was just there sitting on my plastic-wrapped chair. Then the manager comes in, laughs for a while, looks at me and says "aren't you gonna take the plastic off?" And I said "are you gonna pay me for the extra task not described in my contract?" Everyone got quiet, then he ordered my coworkers to clean the mess and apologize. I left the job the next day.
David Butler 2 years ago
Just wait until Generation Z and Alpha take over....total stupid chaos
Freya the Wanderer 2 years ago
Or all the kids who were homeschooled by day drinkers--
Load More Replies...
Ryza Tigno 1 year ago
The first one reminds me of n incident that happened to a friend of mine. It's near Halloween and she was told to come in to work in costume. She was the only one who came in costume, a popular and cute anime character, she was given an exemplary award while in costume, also got a best in costume award because the boss was actually serious about how everyone should have came in costume.
Memere 2 years ago
Some of it is stupid, etc., but when you have a co-worker who does something like some of these CONSTANTLY, every damned day, even after being told not to - yeah, people have a right to be "affronted".
Load More Replies... Stephanie Paich 2 years ago
The straight up theft irritates me. If you didn't pay for it then you can't have it unless someone says you can have it. You're actually making it harder for people to pay their bills.
phil blanque 2 years ago
So many of these hurtful "pranks" indicate an extremely unhealthy work environment, with people taking out their despair and hatefulness on their colleagues. Management should take this very seriously and remove these people from the workplace. The human capacity for revenge and retribution is unlimited...these behaviors will spread.
CA3 2 years ago
Then again, it may be one of the ways these people choose to lighten up the atmosphere in their stressful work environments. I've found it helpful to avoid assuming the worst of a situation.
Load More Replies... Lynn Stultz 2 years ago
Yup. This list made me mad. That many people sucking is kinda depressing.. considering it's just a drop in the bucket.
Izabela Wilson 2 years ago
The only good thing that came with pandemics was the privilege to work from home. People sucks. Passive-agressive children and pigs like these ones, specially.
Thecoolbonnie 2 years ago
The gross cars and personal hygiene issues almost made me puke.... I'm not super a**l about cleanliness, but COME ON
Freya the Wanderer 2 years ago
There should be a special place in Hell for some of these people!
Load More Replies... ʕ º ᴥ ºʔ 2 years ago
thank you so much! I didn't realise there were usernames and so now I will reread this post and others from now on! again, thanks!!
Load More Replies... Glasia van Duivels 2 years ago
there was once at work someone in the UK didnt want a B day party due to panic attacks when surprise, they did anyways the worker sued them for almost half a million and won.
Bryan GC 2 years ago
There was this time I was working in an office and they did a practical joke, covering all my stuff in plastic wrap and tape. When I arrived I just sat there, doing nothing. They were laughing their asses off, but I was just there sitting on my plastic-wrapped chair. Then the manager comes in, laughs for a while, looks at me and says "aren't you gonna take the plastic off?" And I said "are you gonna pay me for the extra task not described in my contract?" Everyone got quiet, then he ordered my coworkers to clean the mess and apologize. I left the job the next day.
David Butler 2 years ago
Just wait until Generation Z and Alpha take over....total stupid chaos
Freya the Wanderer 2 years ago
Or all the kids who were homeschooled by day drinkers--
Load More Replies... Ryza Tigno 1 year ago
The first one reminds me of n incident that happened to a friend of mine. It's near Halloween and she was told to come in to work in costume. She was the only one who came in costume, a popular and cute anime character, she was given an exemplary award while in costume, also got a best in costume award because the boss was actually serious about how everyone should have came in costume.
Memere 2 years ago
Some of it is stupid, etc., but when you have a co-worker who does something like some of these CONSTANTLY, every damned day, even after being told not to - yeah, people have a right to be "affronted".
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