Wait, I’m Working with Who?!?

Identify and manage jerks at work to negate their harmful effects.

Most workplaces are home to at least one jerk. It might be your boss, a co-worker or even yourself. Toxic people have the power to reduce team morale, impinge on others’ job performance and influence their colleagues’ feelings about work. Of course, on the negative office behavior continuum, some people are merely annoying, while others may be extremely harmful.

A Gallup study found that working for a bad boss is the top reason people quit a job. Managers who don’t set clear expectations, who are either unavailable or too involved, or who fail to provide development opportunities create a stressful environment for their subordinates. When they ignore leadership shortcomings and neglect to make positive change, they lose valuable employees, and the performance of those who remain dwindles.

To neutralize workplace toxicity, first identify the type of behavior that is bringing you down. Then, respond to work jerks with one or more of eight proven strategies.

Negative workplace behaviors impinge on team productivity, welfare and morale...