Collaborating With a Difficult Co-Worker: Do’s and Don’ts

How To Deal With The Co-worker Who Is Constantly Complaining

1. Understand where the complainer may be coming from.
2. Consider calling out the behavior if you have a close relationship.
3. If you want to redirect the conversation, you can do it tactfully.
4. If you want to help, don’t dismiss the complaints.

Stop b*tching about work if you want to get ahead

1. Identify what you can (and can’t) control.
2. Turn your complaints into suggestions for improvement.
3. Vent on your own time.
4. Stay positive (and productive)
5. Get a new job.

1. Do examine your own behavior before blaming the other person.
2. Don’t let it get personal.
3. Do communicate what issues you’re having.
4. Don’t get baited into unprofessional behavior.
5. Do remind yourself of what you stand to gain by working with this person.

How do we handle the two-faced foe?

1. Maintain integrity. Never return the favor, as it will only make you look bad.
2. Politely confront the situation.
3. Maintain your distance.
4. Always be alert/aware.
5. Create and maintain a strong business network.
6. Never underestimate others.
7. Don’t let it get you down.

Here are six tips for getting along with even the most annoying people you dislike.

1. Document the Disliked Coworker’s Bad Behavior.
2. Identify Whether You’re Actually the Problem.
3. Try to Learn About the Coworker You Don’t Like.
4. Be the Adult in the Room.
5. Never, Ever Gossip About the Coworker You Dislike.

7 signs your coworkers don’t like you

• You’re invisible.
• You’re the talk of the office—not in a good way.
• You’re getting bad body language vibes.
• You’re always in trouble.
• People don’t seem to trust you.
• Everyone talks down to you.
• You’re unwelcome.

Firing for lack of fit Along those same lines, employers are perfectly within their rights to terminate an employee who doesn’t get along with coworkers. Lack of cultural fit can be a reason for termination, but employers should ensure that such a decision doesn’t come with discriminatory bias.

If you do not have adequate resources or another opportunity, refrain from quitting the job. If you decide to quit, refrain from souring your terms with your boss and coworkers. You might need them some day some where. Instead, make some excuse for quitting, and give your 2-week (or prescribed-period) notice to quit.

In an ideal world, you should stay at each job for a minimum of two years. However, if you quickly come to realize you made the wrong choice when accepting a position, don’t feel obligated to stay at the company until your two-year anniversary.

How to tell your boss you’re resigning

1. Request an in-person meeting.
2. Outline your reasons for quitting.
3. Give at least two weeks’ notice.
4. Offer to facilitate position transition.
5. Express gratitude.
6. Provide constructive feedback.
7. Provide your formal letter of resignation.

When Quitting Your Job Saves Your Mental Health If your employer cannot accommodate your needs, or your needs are too great to continue working, then quitting your job might save your mental health. This is a tough decision so do not make it alone.

You can accept the employee resigning with immediate effect (UK only, of course—this may vary across other countries). Essentially, this means the staff member leaves immediately. It can even by useful to your business if their behaviour was disruptive—or it’s easy to cover their role.

Resignations with immediate effect do not unilaterally terminate the employment relationship unless the employer agrees to it.

You are entitled to be paid your wages for the hours you worked up to the date you quit your job. In general, it is unlawful to withhold pay (for example holiday pay) from workers who do not work their full notice unless a clear written term in the employment contract allows the employer to make deductions from pay.

Just know that you may be forfeiting a good reference and running the risk of hurting your professional reputation (at least within your current company). That said, if you don’t make a habit of quitting without notice, you’ll mostly likely be just fine.

If you don’t give proper notice, you will be in breach of contract and it is possible for your employer to sue you for damages. An example of this would be if they had to pay extra to get a temp to cover your work.

Consider Complaining about Escalated Conflict Sometimes a difficult employee’s behavior creates a chaotic, stressful, or unsafe working environment that affects multiple employees. Tammy’s toxic coworker, for instance, left a work area unusable and then lied about who was responsible for the mess.

How do you explain leaving a job because it was toxic?

1. Describe the work environment in which you’d prefer to work.
2. Talk about the positive aspects of your current job that you’d like to have more of.
3. Just be honest but respectful.
4. Don’t miss out on articles like these.

Can I resign before or during a disciplinary process? Yes, you can. You also need to consider that even if you do resign, your employer could continue the disciplinary process during your notice period, and ultimately still dismiss you for gross misconduct.

If you don’t have a written contract If you haven’t discussed a notice period and you don’t have anything in writing, you should give at least 1 week’s notice. If your employer insists you’ve agreed to longer, ask them what records they have – for example notes from a meeting where you agreed.

Looking for career growth The desire to move to a new level in your career is a common reason for leaving a job. Here’s an example of how someone in this situation might explain why they’re leaving: “I love my role and coworkers, but I’ve come to a point where there are no longer growth opportunities on my team.