When you’re at work, you probably consider yourself a model employee. You feel that you follow through with your responsibilities, get along with your co-workers, and are always reliable. Are you absolutely certain about that?
It’s easy to find fault with your peers but not in yourself. Without even realizing it, you may be the bad co-worker others dread working with. You may not intentionally go into the workplace being that person, but if any of these traits sound like you, then you’re probably a bad co-worker.
If it turns out that you are a bad co-worker, you can always commit to making the changes that are needed to turn you into an ideal employee people enjoy working with.
1. You’re a Drama Llama
If your approach to the job is that every day is like a soap opera, you’re probably a drama llama and are exhausting to work with. Making a big deal out of minor occurrences is a sure sign that you love bringing the theatrics to work.
Your antics make you the center of attention but in the worst possible way. Keeping this behavior up may very well end in a visit to Human Resources. Save the dramatics for actors and actresses and keep your behavior work-oriented.
2. You Play the Blame Game
No one is immune from making mistakes, including in the workplace. It’s how you respond to mistakes you’ve made that’s the test of your character. When you or someone else notices that you’ve made a mistake, what’s your default reaction?
Do you accept responsibility for your error and work to correct it, or do you blame others? If your instant response is to blame everyone else but yourself for your inaccuracies, then you’re not only a bad co-worker, you’re not trustworthy, either.
3. Slacking Off
When you’re on the clock, the expectation is that you are attending to work-related tasks. It doesn’t matter how high your role is within the company, you’re being paid to do a job, and you have an obligation to actually do it.
If you’re engaged in non-work related chit chat, shopping online, or playing games on your smartphone while your peers are working, that’s a bad look. If being a team player is the goal, then you have to focus on your work duties.
4. Frequently Late or Absent
It’s understandable to run late from time to time or to be absent from work occasionally. When arriving late to work becomes a regular habit or you’re repeatedly calling off for no legitimate reason, especially on Mondays and Fridays, that’s a problem.
Those are the kind of behaviors that let your co-workers know loud and clear that you have little regard for their time or work. They most likely have to pick up the slack to fill in for your absences or frequent late arrivals, which is unfair to them.
5. Oversharing
There’s a reason why you’re told to check your personal life at the door when you arrive to work each day. What goes on at home has a way of distracting you and your co-workers from the tasks you’re required to do.
If you have a lot going on outside of work, don’t use your co-workers as a sounding board for your personal woes. It’s probably awkward for them because they likely don’t want to hear about it, but they’re too polite to say anything.
6. Poor Kitchen Etiquette
There’s nothing like the smell of burnt popcorn or microwaved fish wafting through the office to induce a headache. Workplace kitchens are a shared space for employees; it’s important to remember that it’s not like your kitchen at home.
Leaving messes, not refilling supplies when you’ve used the last of an item, and stealing food are forms of disrespect shown to your co-workers and your company. Be a nice person and do the right thing when using the company kitchen.
7. Misbehavior at Meetings
No one expects all work meetings to be interesting, much less exciting, but attending them is a necessary part of the job. When you’re attending these meetings, you’re expected to be aware and engaged.
Even if you don’t have cause to speak out during the meeting, it’s only polite to give the speaker your undivided attention. Having side conversations with the people sitting near you or using your cell phone is impolite.
8. The Company Gossip
I’m sure you know at least one or two people at your workplace who always seem to know everyone else’s business and delight in spilling the tea to anyone within earshot. There’s a possibility you’re that person.
If by any chance you’re the one who can’t wait to spread the dirt around your workplace, you need to stop it. Now. It’s a waste of company time, and you’re proving to everyone that you can’t be trusted with any kind of information.
9. Stealing the Credit
It’s only natural to want to receive praise for the work you do. It feels good to have your efforts and contributions recognized. If for some reason you’re mistakenly given credit for someone else’s work, not correcting the record shows a lack of integrity.
Taking the credit for something you didn’t do is dishonest and isn’t much better than stealing. Do you really want to have that kind of a reputation at work? Only accept the accolades for the projects you contribute to.
10. Negative Attitude
For most people, work is a necessity and not a choice. Who wouldn’t love to collect a paycheck while staying at home and doing nothing? You may not be in love with the idea of reporting to a job every day, but that doesn’t justify a bad attitude.
Having a negative attitude at work makes you an unpleasant person to be around. It also spreads to your co-workers, creating a team of unhappy people. You don’t have to pretend to be overjoyed, but it doesn’t hurt to be pleasant and cordial.
11. Withholding Information
Working collaboratively means sharing information. This is a vital practice to ensure company goals and objectives are met. Withholding information from your peers just to make yourself look superior is sure to backfire.
All this does is make you look power-hungry and selfish. It also shows that you’re willing to sell out your team for your own benefit. Unless the information is communicated to you on a need-to-know basis, share what you know.
12. Not a Team Player
In most occupations, you’re required to work with one or more people or you’re part of a larger team. No matter how large or small the partnership is between you and your peers, making the effort to get along with them is necessary.
Being a team player is more than just having good interpersonal skills. It’a about cultivating a professional, collaborative relationship built on mutual trust and respect, and working toward shared goals, not individual honors.
13. Holding Grudges
In a perfect world, all workplaces would be harmonious and free of all conflicts. In the real world, disputes between co-workers happen all of the time. How you navigate them is the difference between a good and bad co-worker.
Optimally, conflicts at work are handled peacefully, and everyone can go back to working with each other as usual. If you’re the type to stay angry and hold grudges, it only erodes your relationship with your peers.
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