IN many ways, working from home is great when it comes to avoiding co-workers you can't stand.
Whether they're too clingy or too pretentious, these people can sometimes put a downer on your mood at the office, but home working doesn't take them out of the equation entirely.
To deal with their behavior in the era of COVID-19, try switching off your webcam, carefully choosing your days in the office and, above all, doing some serious soul-searching yourself!
You can't choose your family and, unless you're fresh to the world of work, you probably already know that you can't choose your colleagues either. And when it comes to working together to get the job done, loathing your co-worker or your manager can prove problematic.
In 2017, the Viking Blog surveyed French people about the work colleagues they hate, and three types of co-worker stood out: the phony nice-guy (that colleague who's all smiles then bitches about you behind your back), the phony hard-worker (who always tells you how busy they are before heading out for another coffee break), and the bootlicker (who annoys everyone by sucking up to managers).
In the context of the pandemic, home working certainly has its benefits, temporarily banishing these irritating co-workers from your immediate vicinity. Still, that doesn't mean shutting down interaction completely, and you're still going to have to grin and bear it when there's no escaping dealing with them. Here are three tips for coping with co-workers you hate in the age of COVID-19.
1 - Switch off your webcam
If you only ever crossed paths during break times or in company corridors, then great, working from home will completely cut this person out of your work life. No need to endure any more endless conversations about the weekend's weather -- out of sight, out of mind.
If this person works alongside you or is your superior, you can still reduce interactions. Try turning off your webcam during video meetings, for example, even if it's not particularly pleasant for the other person to be talking to a black screen.
Communicating by email or internal messaging services is another way of keeping contact to a minimum. But beware, some conversations should be had out loud, in person, to avoid misunderstandings. And don't bury your head in the sand either, because if you work closely with that person, discussion and interaction can become difficult. If that's the case, why not try talking to them about it? (After trying point number three, perhaps).
2 - Choose days in the office carefully
The pandemic has shaken up the organization of offices and their workers. Now, not everyone can come in to work at the same time on the same days, depending on how big the office is.
So if you're allowed, or expected, to go into your office, why not try to choose your days to avoid being in at the same time as the person you hate?
Try to find out in advance who is going in when, or you could end up being the only two people in the office!
3 - Above all, think about why you can't stand this person
Finding someone's words or behavior unbearable can also come from you -- from the way you've been raised, from your experience and your past. You should therefore ask yourself why you can't stand that particular person.
Carlos Valdes-Dapena, author of "Virtual Teams: Holding the Center When You Can't Meet Face-to-Face," tells the Fast Company website about one time when he started thinking about a colleague he didn't like, and how he realized it was because she tended to boast. "Once I got underneath it, I realized that part of my feelings were jealousy because she had done some pretty impressive stuff," he explains. "I was raised to be modest. I was making her behavior about me. Instead, I had to reframe her behavior as being quirky and off-putting, but not something I couldn't work through. Reframing the dislike is the hardest part."
So wherever that person is in your workplace hierarchy, think hard about the reasons why this person annoys you so much. Because, just like your family, you're ultimately going to have to live with them.
AFP RELAXNEWS
Thu Jan 28 2021
According to a survey, the three most annoying kinds of co-workers are the phony nice-guy, the phony hard-worker, and the bootlicker.
Israel pounds Beirut and Gaza after rockets hit Israel's north
A drone was launched at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's holiday home.
Elon Musk promises to award $1 mil each day to a signer of his petition
He awarded a $1 million check to an attendee of his event in Pennsylvania aimed at rallying supporters behind Donald Trump.
Former special forces commander Prabowo to take up Indonesian presidency
Indonesia's Prabowo Subianto will take over as president of the world's third-largest democracy after sweeping the country's election with policies like free meals for school children
Zayn Malik postpones US tour dates after One Direction bandmate Liam Payne's death
Payne, 31, died on Wednesday after falling from a third-floor hotel room balcony in Buenos Aires, shocking fans of the boy band.
Why voters in a handful of swing states will decide the US presidential election
The contest will almost certainly be decided by just tens of thousands of voters a tiny fraction of the populace in a handful of states.
INSIGHT - Sudan's war risks 'lost generation' of children
A devastating crisis is unfolding in Sudan, where the most vulnerable members of society children are bearing the brunt of the violence.
Who is Prabowo Subianto, incoming president of Indonesia?
A wealthy ex-general with ties to Indonesia's popular outgoing president and its dictatorial past, looks set to be its next leader.
Trump says he would impose tariffs on China if China went into Taiwan
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said he would impose additional tariffs on China if China were to "go into Taiwan,"
Iran's supreme leader says Hamas leader's death will not halt 'Axis of Resistance'
The "Axis of Resistance", built up with years of Iranian support, includes Hamas, the Lebanese Hezbollah group, the Houthi movement in Yemen, and various Shi'ite groups in Iraq and Syria.
Putin says Russia willing to seek compromises between Iran and Israel
Russia is ready to help seek compromises between arch-foes Israel and Iran, President Vladimir Putin said on Friday, saying these would be difficult but possible.
What proposals will Russia push at the BRICS summit?
The proposal is also to establish a BRICS reinsurance company to allow uninterrupted shipment of goods and key commodities between members.
Indonesia's free meals plan in the spotlight as Prabowo readies for office
Prabowo calls the programme one of the main drivers of economic growth, eventually set to add an estimated 2.5 million jobs.
Astro AWANI's revamped English news website, AWANI International, launches on Oct 21
Astro AWANI's revamped English platform delivers in-depth global news and expert analysis to keep you informed on key developments.
Israeli strikes kill 33 people in Jabalia refugee camp in Gaza, medics say
Residents of Jabalia said Israeli tanks had reached the heart of the camp after pushing through suburbs and residential districts.
Liam Payne's ex-partner calls for media restraint after 'painful' death
Cheryl Tweedy used her statement to urge the media to remember they had a seven-year-old son, Bear, who could read the reports.
Analysts: Indonesia's strong MoF leadership team to boost investor confidence
Sri Mulyani Indrawati as head of Indonesia's Ministry of Finance is expected to instil confidence among investors.
Biden offers both a carrot and a stick to Israel as his term nears an end
Israel has frequently resisted US advice and has caused political difficulties for the Biden administration.
Putin says BRICS will generate most of global economic growth
Russian President Vladimir Putin will host a summit of the group in the city of Kazan on Oct. 22-24.
ISIS Malaysia's perspective of Budget 2025
An excellent rakyat-centric budget under the overarching principle of a caring and humane economy.
Budget 2025: Record increase in STR, SARA aid initiatives
The government will provide a significant boost to the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) and Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) initiatives next year.