Bad day at the office? Irritating colleagues top office hit list
PEN PUSHERS face daily annoyances as nearly half of office workers say they sit next to someone who “gets on their wick”.
Two out of five workers complain about Catherine-Tate style colleagues who talk too much or too loudly, continually moan and steal stationary.
With office workers typically spending 1,332 hours a year at their desks it is unsurprising that 38% are irritated by colleagues who eat noisily or leave messy desks.
Some unlucky desk dwellers even said they sat next to workers who didn’t shower after a lunch-time workout, making afternoons less than pleasant.
David Clubb, managing director of Office Angels, which surveyed 1000 office staff, said: “It’s inevitable that occasionally desk-neighbours will get on your nerves. After all, you spend a large part of your day in close proximity to them.
“If a colleague has gone a step too far, don’t be afraid to confront the problem and talk to them, but ensure you do so in a calm and professional manner, after you’ve taken a few deep breaths.
“It’s best to nip a problem in the bud rather than let it escalate.”