Is your office a den of negativity? If you’re constantly complaining to co-workers about how much you hate your job, looking for any and every excuse to get away from your desk, and gossiping more than talking about work projects, the problem might be you. Find out if you possess any or all of the 13 most common traits of a disengaged and toxic employee, and change your ways before you tank your career.
(Photo Credit: Kristina Alexanderson/Flickr)
If you’re like the vast majority of working individuals, going to work isn’t something you’re jumping for joy about. However, that doesn’t mean you have to make it miserable for the rest of the office. By contributing to the gossip, office politics, and complaining, you’re only making it worse for yourself (and for morale) by “spreading the cancer” throughout the office.
What’s scary is that many habitual complainers don’t even realize that they’re the culprits of their own toxic work environments. These types of employees are usually disengaged, unhappy, and try to recruiter others to join in on their misery — because, after all, misery does love company. To help you identify whether or not you’re “one of them,” take a look at Officevibe’s infographic below to see if you relate. Then, read on to find out how to fix your problem.
(Infographic Credit: Officevibe)
Instead of being a Debbie Downer and promoting a toxic work environment, why not be the change that you want to see in the world office?
To help steer you in the right direction to turn that frown upside down, consider trying your hand at one of the following:
1. Learn a new skill that will enhance your career knowledge and, possibly, warrant a raise.
2. Negotiate a raise. If a measly salary is what’s got you down and out, then learn the tricks of the trade and negotiate yourself a fair wage.
3. Change up your morning and evening routines, or try out these three lifehacks to improve your mood and boost your health.
4. Talk to your boss about the possibility of working a more flexible work schedule to promote higher productivity.
5. Consider changing careers to something that better suits your personality type and skills.
Bonus: You can also read this post to see three ways to cope with office politics effectively and professionally.
Tell Us What You Think
How do you prevent their negativity from affecting your work and morale? Share your experience with our community on Twitter.
i just want to know how to do this part
“Tell Us What You Think
How do you prevent their negativity from affecting your work and morale? Share your experience with our community on Twitter”
or see an example of what this would look like on Twitter , because of the limited character nature of Twitter, I can’t imagine how this would look.
If a person applies for a position that he/she was supposed to have been trained for over the past 5 years. How is that person going to perform when he/she is told that you lack fit,lack communication skills and lack leadership quality?
Most of all…while I’m at work, I mind my own business…and, just do my job. I don’t get involved in any gossip whatsoever! I just do whatever job task that I’m assigned to do, and that’s it! Plus, at my job, we’re not given time to spread gossip, and squander time…like most workers do. Most employers won’t hesitate to terminate employees if they catch them goofing off! Like doing things other than what they’re assigned. At most work establishments, it’s… Read more »
Are you a mean spirited journalist?
I think its important to address what makes a good employee bad! It quite simple to label people as disengaged, but what brings about this behavior is the question that needs to be answered, rather that “if this is you, then change yourself or get out” inadvertently, It is being disengaged from management that makes employees disengaged. If there is this kind of ethos in an office, it is more a failure of management’s ability to engage its employees. The… Read more »
We are all expendable in Corporate America. This article is a joke. Do you you really think people go to work thinking what can I screwup today? Each person has different talents and it is up to management to bring them out.
I was a happy, engaged, collaborating employee until the new boss decided that the organization’s bad financial position was going to be balanced on 50% of my salary (i.e., my hours and salary were cut in half). Hard to stay positive when your efforts are only noticed by your co-workers and not by the higher ups. Despite the turn of my job, I am still in the office on time and work the allotted hours. Before, if necessary, I would… Read more »
Yes I too read the article plus all the attachments. It’s very good information with a very good intent. If anyone has worked for 4 decades as I have the you also have been the fodder for the work gossip, been targeted by obviously insecure coworkers and/ or bosses and even may have been dismissed for “unjust” reasons to satisfy someone’s ego or insecurity. And yes, people who write these articles should be more careful about proofreading or, instead, do… Read more »
Remember: ALWAYS BE SERVILE. Companies want unthinkingly obedient slaves not human beings. And whatever you do, don’t try to rise above your station!
Humans are by nature miserable complainers. They like to form informal groups to make sure they always stay with the power. Office Politics is a messy thing indeed – but unfortunately for most of us it’s almost more than 60% of our daily lives. Unfortunately this what the corporate culture has given us. A good article indeed. Let’s be humane so that we can be good anywhere we are – be it the work place or our own homes. Sayanora!
Third paragraph down – “try to recruiter others” – perhaps someone should have checked the editorial and grammar proofreading skills of the writer. It’s very hard to take advice from people who don’t show attention to important details like this obvious and avoidable error.
Jules is on the right track. If the company likes people with all of these traits then in their eyes they are seen as “good” employees. The problem with the above list is it is also a lot of habits that a great employee in a toxic environment might also exhibit. If there is high staff turnover for example and the culture is toxic then great workers will also start to complain, lack initiative, etc.
Its true I agree with Joe there is always incompetent superiors who will always feel threatened and when they want you gone you will go despite your hard work and dedication.
I just read this great artical and I have participated in all of the above, what is not mentioned here, is the bully boss or bully colleague that steal credit for your efforts, or bully boss that overloads you with way too many tasks that us not humanly possible to performan in a given period. You can join a company with all the enutheism be willing to be a great team player, and go to he extra mile or miles,… Read more »
The “bad” vs “good employee model in it’s self is a little toxic at times, so interesting article but ultimately something to be thoughtful about how you view your colleagues and self in work