10 Annoying Coworkers in Open-Plan Offices
2 April 2014
Read by 2098 persons
Working in an open-plan office has advantages. You can enjoy group (professional) life, which allows you to share special moments, learn together and work in a creative atmosphere. At least, in theory. Because in reality, there's always that coworker who makes your life miserable every day. And the worst part is, sometimes that coworker is you, some people say. We've listed 10 incredibly annoying types of coworkers for you. And you, what does the coworker you love to hate look like?
1 - The Keyboard Destroyer
With a determined air, the keyboard destroyer (let's call him that) gives it his all to pound the keys. As if that could indicate that he's working more, or thinking hard. You can be annoyed, that's understandable. But there's no need to make your keyboard (and your neighbors) pay the price.
Annoyance level: 4/10
2 - The Sick-But-Not-Too-Sick Coworker
Presenteeism does damage. Its symbol? That coworker who wants to be liked by everyone and will only leave their post if they are on the verge of death. A little cold doesn't scare them; you'll hear them sniffling and coughing for three weeks straight in the open-plan office without seeing a doctor. "But no, it's fine, it's almost over, I have a file in progress, I can't be absent." As a result, not only will they have broken your ears for entire days, but everyone else also got their sick leave thanks to them.
Annoyance level: 8/10
3 - The Incorrigible Joker
It's a rule of nature. With every sufficiently large gathering of people in the same place, there must be a joker. The type of puns may vary, but they often have one thing in common: they don't know when to stop. It's the same in an open-plan office. There's always a coworker who will tell you the latest funny story (or send the latest link to a video of a coughing cat), especially when you're on the phone with a client or trying to concentrate.
Annoyance level: 6/10
4 - The Heavy Breather
Concentrating on their computer, this specimen doesn't realize how much noise they're making. But each exhalation makes a noise equivalent to the takeoff of an Airbus A-320. Two solutions: avoid several-minute apneas, or get back into sports a bit.
Annoyance level: 5/10
5 - The Loud Music Listener
Some companies allow their employees to listen to some music. Why not. But when you don't want to put on the latest Lara Fabian, you don't particularly want to hear it because your office neighbor has turned the volume up to full blast in their cheap headphones. And sometimes, they sing. Like a madmaaaaaan, like a kiiiiing!
Annoyance level: 3/10
6 - The Overwhelmed Coworker
"I won't tell you how overbooked I am right now!" Yes, like everyone else. Except that others don't spend all day telling everyone and wandering around the offices to complain. This king of wandering and complaining is usually the first to organize meetings or spend hours at the coffee machine. Being overwhelmed is something you organize!
Annoyance level: 6/10
7 - The All-Day Snacker
Everyone gets a little hungry from time to time. But for some, preparing small snacks is a real profession. Secret drawer, fresh fruit supplies, small cakes prepared the day before... it's like a dinner almost perfect. The one who shares can quickly become your best friend. But the one who keeps it all to themselves (it happens) can be quite annoying! Especially if they don't close their mouth when they chew.
Annoyance level: 2/10
8 - The Wannabe Boss
"Stop talking! There are people working here!" "Are you still on YouTube?" "It's 9:10 am, you're still late..." The wannabe boss is like a real boss, but without the power. They just do it for fun. But of course, their advice and reprimands are neither productive nor taken seriously. The wannabe boss generally doesn't have many friends, we understand why.
Annoyance level: 9/10
9 - The One Who Only Talks About Their Kids (or Paternity Leave)
Having children (or paternity leave) is a magical time. You want to talk about it all the time. And put pictures everywhere on your desk. And as a wallpaper. And tell the insignificant anecdotes that give us so much pleasure. Sometimes forgetting that actually everyone doesn't care except us...
Annoyance level: 5/10
10 - The One Who Spends Their Life on the Phone
The phone is a job, my good sir. But some people take it more to heart than others. Their phone rings every 5 minutes, and when it's not the landline, it's the mobile phone vibrating on their desk. And there's no question of being discreet; shouting into the receiver is a vital need to put the person on the other end at ease. It doesn't matter that there are 10 of us in the open-plan office, 4 of whom are on the phone.
Annoyance level: 7/10
Blog-emploi.com
Posted on April 2, 2014.
1 - The Keyboard Destroyer
With a determined air, the keyboard destroyer (let's call him that) gives it his all to pound the keys. As if that could indicate that he's working more, or thinking hard. You can be annoyed, that's understandable. But there's no need to make your keyboard (and your neighbors) pay the price.
Annoyance level: 4/10
2 - The Sick-But-Not-Too-Sick Coworker
Presenteeism does damage. Its symbol? That coworker who wants to be liked by everyone and will only leave their post if they are on the verge of death. A little cold doesn't scare them; you'll hear them sniffling and coughing for three weeks straight in the open-plan office without seeing a doctor. "But no, it's fine, it's almost over, I have a file in progress, I can't be absent." As a result, not only will they have broken your ears for entire days, but everyone else also got their sick leave thanks to them.
Annoyance level: 8/10
3 - The Incorrigible Joker
It's a rule of nature. With every sufficiently large gathering of people in the same place, there must be a joker. The type of puns may vary, but they often have one thing in common: they don't know when to stop. It's the same in an open-plan office. There's always a coworker who will tell you the latest funny story (or send the latest link to a video of a coughing cat), especially when you're on the phone with a client or trying to concentrate.
Annoyance level: 6/10
4 - The Heavy Breather
Concentrating on their computer, this specimen doesn't realize how much noise they're making. But each exhalation makes a noise equivalent to the takeoff of an Airbus A-320. Two solutions: avoid several-minute apneas, or get back into sports a bit.
Annoyance level: 5/10
5 - The Loud Music Listener
Some companies allow their employees to listen to some music. Why not. But when you don't want to put on the latest Lara Fabian, you don't particularly want to hear it because your office neighbor has turned the volume up to full blast in their cheap headphones. And sometimes, they sing. Like a madmaaaaaan, like a kiiiiing!
Annoyance level: 3/10
6 - The Overwhelmed Coworker
"I won't tell you how overbooked I am right now!" Yes, like everyone else. Except that others don't spend all day telling everyone and wandering around the offices to complain. This king of wandering and complaining is usually the first to organize meetings or spend hours at the coffee machine. Being overwhelmed is something you organize!
Annoyance level: 6/10
7 - The All-Day Snacker
Everyone gets a little hungry from time to time. But for some, preparing small snacks is a real profession. Secret drawer, fresh fruit supplies, small cakes prepared the day before... it's like a dinner almost perfect. The one who shares can quickly become your best friend. But the one who keeps it all to themselves (it happens) can be quite annoying! Especially if they don't close their mouth when they chew.
Annoyance level: 2/10
8 - The Wannabe Boss
"Stop talking! There are people working here!" "Are you still on YouTube?" "It's 9:10 am, you're still late..." The wannabe boss is like a real boss, but without the power. They just do it for fun. But of course, their advice and reprimands are neither productive nor taken seriously. The wannabe boss generally doesn't have many friends, we understand why.
Annoyance level: 9/10
9 - The One Who Only Talks About Their Kids (or Paternity Leave)
Having children (or paternity leave) is a magical time. You want to talk about it all the time. And put pictures everywhere on your desk. And as a wallpaper. And tell the insignificant anecdotes that give us so much pleasure. Sometimes forgetting that actually everyone doesn't care except us...
Annoyance level: 5/10
10 - The One Who Spends Their Life on the Phone
The phone is a job, my good sir. But some people take it more to heart than others. Their phone rings every 5 minutes, and when it's not the landline, it's the mobile phone vibrating on their desk. And there's no question of being discreet; shouting into the receiver is a vital need to put the person on the other end at ease. It doesn't matter that there are 10 of us in the open-plan office, 4 of whom are on the phone.
Annoyance level: 7/10
Blog-emploi.com
Posted on April 2, 2014.
