Survey: Nearly Half Of All Employees Hate Someone At Work

Posted August 16, 2007 12:00 pm.

This article is more than 5 years old.

Are you at work while you’re reading this? If so, how do you really feel about the person sitting next to you? According to a new survey out of Britain, 45 percent of the 2,500 employees asked admitted a startling fact: they don’t like a lot of their co-workers. That’s surprising, but even more shocking is this: that’s a lot higher than the 20 percent who say they can’t stand their boss.

The survey by online British employment firm jobs2view.com finds 40 percent have trouble getting along with at least one person in their work circle – while 23 percent admit that person is the one sitting next to them. If that doesn’t make you eye the guy or gal beside you with new suspicion, consider this: an astounding 31 percent confessed they’ve quit previous jobs just to get away from a person they disliked.

How do those who stay cope knowing they’ll be facing the persona non grata on a daily basis? Over half simply say they’re too busy to talk while fully a third pretends they didn’t hear the offensive one’s voice at all.

So what’s the reason for all this hatred outside the hearth? Almost half cite laziness for their distaste. Forty percent complain of being left out of a workplace ‘clique’. And a full 57 percent resent the fact that their despised colleague appears friendly sometimes – and acts like an icicle at others.

The information is almost amusing until you consider the financial fallout. People who spend time dreading an encounter with a colleague are less likely to be as efficient as those who are happy at work. And many say it leads to them simply watching the clock until the day ends. Those may be the employees who occupy a final group – the large number who agree their job is simply a way of making money and not an actual ‘career’.

So what should you do if you’re one of those who finds ire in those for hire? Here are some suggestions:

Ten tips for dealing with difficult co-workers

The 5 most difficult people at work

And finally in the interest of stirring things up: How to annoy your coworkers

Survey Highlights By The Numbers

Can’t stand at least one of their colleagues: 40%

Hate the person sitting next to them: 23%

Quit to get away from a person they hate: 31%

Refuse to socialize with co-workers: 59%

Made fake phone call to avoid speaking to a colleague: 35%

Think about quitting everyday: 27%

Think about quitting once a week: 19%