Workers are annoyed with both the personal behavior and the work habits of their colleagues. Topping the list among men, 41% are turned off by co-workers' body odor. Nearly as many women think their colleagues could do better in the hygiene department, about 38%. (People, there is a cure for that. It's called roll-on).
Read also: Surprising Ways You May Be Grossing Out Your Co-workers
Women are most likely to be annoyed when another steals credit for their ideas. This peeve is number one on the list for 41% of all women (and 36% of men). Perhaps because younger employees are less likely to speak up for themselves on the job, 44% of 18-34 year-olds, both men and women, say this is really ticks them off.
What's another common complaint? Not surprisingly, given the lack of privacy in most workplaces, about a third of workers (33% of women and 31% of men) are irked by hearing a colleague's loud, personal telephone conversations.
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According to the survey, the lunchroom is a minefield of annoying behaviors. Men and women are equally aggrieved when someone swipes their food out of the office refrigerator-27% report this is their biggest complaint. And, if you were thinking of eating that onion pizza or garlicky meatball sub on the job, perhaps you should save it for the weekend. It will seriously gross out 13% of your male and 12% of your female colleagues.
"Your mother doesn't live at the office," says Diane Gottsman, national etiquette expert. Given the level of irritation cited by workers, it's a good reminder for every one, from interns to bosses, to monitor one's own behavior on the job.
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