Places To Be

Most annoying co-workers

The workplace is a vibrant melting pot of differing personalities and larger-than-life characters where dreams are realised.  At least that’s what we we’re told in school. In most real-world work environments, adjectives like irritating, annoying and absurd paint a much more accurate picture of those whom which we share the hours of 9 to 5

Here they are.

 

The Lunchbox Thief

 

The most frustratingly common co-worker, also known as the ‘Fridge Ninja,’ is infamous for infiltrating the break room and extracting your Cheesymite Scroll whilst remaining utterly undetected. No amount of labels or strongly worded notes can deter this keen and cunning hunter.

 

BATTLE STRATEGY: Tuna, Olive and Hummus ‘decoy’ sandwiches for three straight days should do the trick.

 

The Talk Too Much Guy/Girl

Initially you used to delight in asking this chirpy colleague what they got up to on the weekend, now come Monday you do all you can to slink in silently and pray they don’t notice you until Wednesday. There’s little chance of that though as a famous singer has just been admitted to rehab, a new tax is being proposed and there is an inter-office romance blossoming and they are just dying to talk to you about it.

 

BATTLE STRATEGY: Flesh-colour headphones and a convincing nod.

 

The Angry Ant

The photocopier jams up – your fault! The Internet server is down – your fault! The weather report predicted sun but it’s starting to drizzle – YOUR FAULT! This disgruntled associate takes umbrage with everything you do, assuming your sole purpose is to inconvenience them at every turn.

 

BATTLE STRATEGY: Two words. Fake. Crying.

 

The ‘I Think I’m the Boss, Even Though I’m Not’ Co-Worker

This co-worker is notorious for looking down their nose at others and openly questioning your value to the organisation - despite this only being their second week. Condescending, bordering on overdressed and with a nose browner than Humphrey B. Bear this ‘teammate’ is the reason you find yourself combing through the classifieds over lunch.

 

BATTLE STRATEGY: They want to be the boss? Fine. Then be sure to turn to them with every work-related query you have - no matter how trivial - then sit back and watch as they fast-track their application for stress leave!

 

Even if your workplace is devoid of any of the annoying co-workers that inhabit our list, chances are you have a particular associate who drives you just as crazy as the aforementioned ever could.

 

The secret to enduring these outrageous and infuriating personalities while maintaining your sanity within the workplace is simpler than you’d think: just let it go.

 

Work is a vital element of lives but it’s only one, tiny piece of what goes into making up the human experience. Bosses will be unreasonable and co-workers will make your blood boil yet if you ensure that the other positive elements in your life – family, friends, hobbies - are just as prominent in your thoughts, you’ll find that Angela from Accounting eating your Cheesymite Scroll isn’t as soul-crushing as you first thought.