9 Things Co-Workers Do That Annoy Literally Everyone (Especially Me)

Studio shot of young woman working in office being under emotional stress

Before I say anything, I should let you all know that I am probably a very annoying co-worker. To stay on top of my healthy diet, I make sure to eat every three hours or so and that includes me biting into apples at my desk and chewing salad at lunch. I also enjoy talking. Since I came out of the womb, I’ve been able to talk nonsense with anyone — from a window to a wall (that was a ‘Get Low’ reference), so chances are, I will want to talk nonsense with you, and I will.

I would definitely hate me if I wasn’t me, but even though I’m totally guilty of being annoying, I still can’t handle it when other people are annoying too. Here are 9 things co-workers do that I think are really, really, ridiculously annoying.


1. Chewing loudly.

Why is it that the sound of someone biting an apple is equivalent to the sound of nails screeching across a chalkboard? I realize that people have to eat at their desks – I am a culprit of this. But come ON. One company I worked at curbed this issue by blaring music throughout the office. I recommend this to other workplaces who also hate the sound of loud chewing.


2. Going up to someone’s desk to ask a question.

Dun dun dun, here comes so-and-so to ask me a question and ultimately interrupt me from whatever I am doing. It’s like, hi, it’s 2016. Couldn’t you have just emailed me first? Or sent me a text? Or an office chat? Just because I don’t have my own office with a door that locks doesn’t mean I am open for chit-chat 24/7.


3. Loudly laughing at your desk.

Or laughing so loud in meeting rooms that it radiates throughout the entire office. There’s always one loud, usually fake laugher at work. And everyone knows the sound of a dis-genuine laugh is an unpleasing sound at best. I am on to you, loud laughers. I mean, what can be SO funny every day at work? Huh? HUH?!


4. Taking long lunches when other people are eating at their desks.

This is only annoying when I’m the one stuck working. If I’ve got free time, I will be the one going for the long, leisurely walk. But when I don’t, I will envy anyone who does. This is MOST annoying when someone gets a free pass to leave during lunch every day, even when the work load is heavy, when others don’t. This person will be envied all the time, by everyone.




5. Replying all on every single e-mail.

Sure, sometimes you have to reply-all because it’s a chain and everyone needs to see your reply. But other times, just respond to the one person who needs to see your email, or no one at all. Just because email exists doesn’t mean I need to be sent an email that is for someone else that only says one-word, for example: ‘K’ or ‘Thanks.’ I am going to speak for the general public here and say we would appreciate your lack of e-mails and our not-as-full inboxes in return. K, thanks.


6. Taking personal calls on your cell phone at your desk.

Like, hello. You’re at work, not a shopping mall. You’re also an adult, not a teenager. Go outside. Go in an open meeting room. Go anywhere but around other people who are trying to work. And I don’t mean the bathroom. Please don’t take a call in the bathroom. If it can wait, let it wait. You’re not stuck at work forever.


7. Listening to music too loud in your headphones.

You are using headphones so no one around you will hear what you’re listening to, right? Then please tell me why I can hear what you’re listening to. Or, okay, I will — because your music is too damn loud! Why don’t you realize this?


8. Whispering with someone at your desk.

As an unintentional eavesdropper, whispering annoys me because it’s like, what are you saying? I can barely hear because you’re whispering, but I can hear you enough — and it’s just enough to drive me INSANE. If you’ve got something so secretive to talk about, go into a meeting room. Go get coffee. Don’t tempt me to listen to your conversation because I will stop doing my very important work and try. I just can’t help myself.


9. Existing.

Sometimes everything about everyone annoys me when it’s raining out or when I’m having a bad day, and that’s fine. What’s not fine is when I feel this way for an extended period of time because when this happens it’s not the people who are annoying me — it’s the job. That’s why I try to let the little things go. People are annoying. I’m over it (kind of). Are you?

Samantha Matt


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