Are you an annoying colleague?

5 September, Australia—Almost a third (31%) of Australian workers would rather have a tooth extracted than socialise with a colleague outside of work, according to a new survey by global job site Indeed. That's around 3.8 million workers.  

So, what makes a colleague unbearable? Indeed's survey asked Aussie employees which traits and behaviours they loathe in a colleague, and which ones they like the most.

Top 5 most annoying behaviours

Australians are clear about what grates on their nerves in the workplace. Leading the list of annoying behaviours is poor personal hygiene—a trait that's quite literally on-the-nose for 58% of workers, which is equivalent to around 7 million people. Gossiping (49%), being messy (49%), talking over people (48%), and invading personal space (42%) follow closely behind.

Bad bosses also come under fire in the survey, with workers labelling managers who are hypocritical (51%), have a tendency to micromanage (49%) or have unreasonable expectations (48%) as the most annoying kind.

Top 5 most disliked personality traits

When it comes to personality, Aussies have little tolerance for certain traits. The top five things workers least like colleagues to be are lazy (58%), manipulative (53%), unreliable (51%), rude, (51%), and a liar (50%). 

Top 5 most liked personality traits

Despite the gripes, workers know what they value in a colleague. Being reliable (66%), honest (60%), hard-working (55%), a team player (55%), and good humoured (52%), are the five character traits most admired in a colleague. 

Things Aussie workers would change

Aussies most commonly say they wish their colleagues were more aware of their annoying behaviours (69%), that they'd be more fun to work with (63%), and that they'd act more professionally (57%).

When annoyances become too much

The impact of annoying colleagues extends beyond mere frustration. Over half (55%) of workers have felt stressed due to annoying co-worker behaviours, and 40% find their workplace difficult because of annoying colleague behaviour. The tension is significant enough to have driven nearly a third—or around 3.7 million workers—to resign in the past because of a co-worker's conduct.

Sally McKibbin, Career Expert at Indeed, says:

"The fact that so many people would rather face the dentist's chair than spend personal time with a colleague suggests that many want clear boundaries when it comes to work and play." 

"Qualities like reliability, honesty and hard work continue to be cherished in colleagues, forming the foundation of a positive work environment.  

"Effective communication and mutual respect are essential in navigating the many nuances of working with colleagues."

"When annoying behaviours become more than just pet peeves, they create major disruptions that can turn a dream job into a recurring nightmare, and in some cases, even prompt someone to resign."  

ENDS

About the study

The survey was conducted online between 1 - 8 May 2024. The survey sample consisted of a nationally representative sample of 1,071 Australian workers aged 18-64, excluding those who are self-employed. Data has been weighted by age, gender and region to be nationally representative of the population of Australian workers in this age group, excluding those who are self-employed. 

About Indeed 

Indeed was founded in 2004 as the first comprehensive search engine for jobs. Since then, Indeed has grown to nearly 10,000 employees in 27 offices in 14 locations around the globe and is the #1 job site in the world.

For more information, visit www.indeed.com