The office is a shared space where people spend a huge chunk of their day, so it’s no surprise that certain habits can start to grate over time. Sure, no one’s perfect, but some behaviours stand out as particularly irritating. So, if you’ve ever noticed colleagues quietly rolling their eyes or awkwardly avoiding certain desks, there’s a chance that one of these tiresome office habits might sound familiar.
Interrupting Conversations Without Waiting Your Turn
There’s nothing worse than when someone at work jumps into your sentence before you’ve finished talking, leaving you feeling undervalued. People want to share their thoughts without battling to hold the floor; offenders might think their contributions come across as enthusiasm, but in reality, cutting in is dismissive. Overall, letting someone finish before responding is always the best way to show respect for their thoughts.
Leaving Dishes in the Sink for Days
If your office has a kitchen, you’re no doubt familiar with that one person who leaves dirty dishes in the sink for days. A mug here or a plate there might not seem like a big deal at the time, but when a pile forms, it’s hard to ignore. No one enjoys playing kitchen detective to figure out who left their week-old lunch container, so remember to clean up after yourself!
Blasting Music Without Headphones
Some people work better with background music, and that’s fine, but not everyone wants their workday to turn into a concert. It’s especially grating when the playlist isn’t to your taste, so headphones are a small courtesy that can make a big difference in keeping the office atmosphere peaceful.
Taking Credit for Someone Else’s Ideas
You might think that claiming an idea as your own might get you noticed, but it’s a quick way to lose trust. People work hard on their contributions and expect them to be recognised. Ultimately, when others swoop in to steal the credit, it breeds resentment and damages team morale, so you should absolutely avoid doing this and instead give people credit where it’s due.
Constantly Complaining About the Office Temperature
Not everyone has the same tolerance for hot or cold, but endless grumbles about the air conditioning or heating don’t help anyone. More still, adjusting the thermostat a dozen times a day is a sure way to irritate colleagues. Instead, remember to come to work dressed in layers, and that way, you can adjust your own temperature accordingly.
Talking Over Video Calls in Shared Spaces
These days, video calls are a necessary part of the work day for most office workers, but make sure you don’t force your colleagues to listen to your loud meetings. When conference calls are conducted within open-plan offices, it feels like an invasion of everyone else’s focus. A bit of volume awareness goes a long way, but better still, booking a meeting room or finding a quieter spot is always the best option.
Sending Emails at Unsociable Hours
Another office habit that your colleagues are likely getting tired of is if you send late-night or weekend emails. Yes, you might feel productive doing so, but they can create unnecessary stress for recipients. People often feel pressured to reply immediately, even if the timing is inconvenient, so make sure that you schedule these emails for normal working hours to keep work boundaries clear.
Oversharing Personal Drama During Work Hours
Bonding with colleagues is natural and usually productive, but constant updates about personal problems can become draining. Sharing too much information about your relationships or family troubles might make others feel uncomfortable or trapped in a soap opera they didn’t ask to watch. So, unless your colleague asks, keep personal chats light to maintain a harmonious work environment.
Hovering Over Someone’s Desk Without Notice
If you’ve ever experienced that invasive feeling of someone hovering over your desk while you work, you’ll know how annoying it is. Dropping by someone’s desk unannounced can interrupt their flow, especially if they’re deep in concentration. It’s even worse when the hovering is paired with the offender not saying a word; a quick message or polite tap to check if you’re free is so much more respectful.
Ignoring Shared Deadlines
When you work within a team, missing a deadline doesn’t just affect your own reputation–it messes up projects and puts pressure on your colleagues, who will likely have to pick up the slack. It’s inevitable that delays will sometimes occur, but make sure you communicate them clearly within plenty of time to prevent causing frustration and mistrust.
Leaving Half-Finished Tasks for Others
Just as with missed deadlines, starting something and leaving it for others is a terrible move in the office. Sure, it might seem smart if you have other more important tasks to attend to, but more often than not, it’s just plain lazy. There’s nothing wrong with delegation, but try to finish what you have started, and if this isn’t possible, communicate your problem clearly with whoever needs to pick up the slack.
Bringing in Overly Strong-Smelling Lunches
What is it with people microwaving fish or heating pungent curries in the office kitchen?! Yes, everyone has the right to their own food preferences, but this is a surefire way to divide the office. What smells delicious to one person can be overwhelming to another, so in general, it’s better to stick to neutral food options for your office lunch, preventing the office from becoming a sensory warzone.
Overusing Office Jargon
Depending on what industry you work in, you’ll probably have a lot of buzzwords that help you feel like you’re speaking the office lingo. However, this can often come across as insincere and, frankly, annoying. Obviously, technical terms are often necessary, but try to speak in plain English and don’t throw in jargon for the sake of it.
Gossiping About Colleagues
Nothing will tire out your colleagues more than workplace gossip. Here in the UK, this is a particularly common problem, with casual chats often sliding into nasty, toxic gossip. It might seem entertaining at the time, but ask yourself–does that come at the expense of another colleague? If so, you’re probably hurting someone’s feelings, so try to be kinder and keep discussions considerate.
Not Refilling the Printer Paper or Ink
There are few office habits that are more frustrating than when someone rushes to print something, only to leave the paper tray empty or the printer out-of-ink for the next person. Just refill the supplies as you go–it’s really not that hard and won’t take more than a couple of minutes, yet it’s an effort that saves big headaches for your colleagues.
Arriving Late to Every Meeting
When you show up late to meetings, you disrupt the flow and waste everyone’s time, as they’re more than likely waiting around for you to arrive. Once in a while, these things happen, but chronic lateness gives the impression you simply don’t value other people’s schedules. To combat this, set a reminder for any meeting and aim to be early to show respect for the team.
Using Loud Speakerphone Conversations
Just as with loud video calls, speakerphone usage in shared spaces can turn a private conversation into an office-wide distraction, and it’s incredibly annoying. Between the volume and the echo, they’re disruptive for everyone else, so if you need to take a call, regardless of whether it’s business-related or personal, do it in an area where people aren’t trying to work.
Overloading the Fridge with Your Food
You might think that bringing in a week’s worth of lunches is organised and efficient, but come on–you’re taking up half the fridge! This doesn’t leave much room for everyone else, which isn’t really fair. Sure, you can still prepare your lunches in advance, but store them in your own home’s fridge until you actually need them.
Forgetting to Say Thank You
As we learned as children, a small thank you goes a long way, and this is no different in the workplace. Perhaps someone held the door for you, helped you with a task, or simply made you a cup of tea; either way, recognising their effort builds goodwill. Forgetting to acknowledge these moments can leave colleagues feeling unappreciated, which isn’t nice.
Constantly Clicking Pens or Tapping Surfaces
Last but not least, be careful not to fall into nervous habits at work, such as clicking pens or drumming on your desk. It might not seem like a big deal at the time, but the repetitive noise can quickly drive others to distraction. Overall, be mindful of how you behave and remember that whatever noises you make, other people will also have to put up with.
