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African businesswoman filing fingernails at desk with boss looking over cubicle wall

Source: Jon Feingersh / Getty

A healthy working environment makes all the difference in your 9-5. You spend more time at work than at home. Having that one coworker that rubs you the wrong way can make an 8-hour shift seem like an eternity. Here are the types of coworkers we wish we’d never met — and the types you want to make sure you avoid becoming.

She sucks up to leadership

No matter what, she’s going to find a way to get up close and personal with the management team. At every turn, she’s “skinning and grinning” in the boss’ face, trying to gain more brownie points. She’s a snitch, and you have to watch your back. You just want to do your work and get paid, and couldn’t care less about buddying up to leadership. In her mind, the more she sucks up, the better her chances at landing a promotion, raise, or some other perk. You are very tickled by her antics because you have insider knowledge that even management views her as a pest.

Not doing her share

You really thought group work would be a thing of the past once you graduated—but oh no. Here you are stuck in the conference room as your coworker spews her grandiose ideas for projects when she knows she’ll never contribute. When the deadline is fast approaching, something always happens–her cat gets pneumonia, she books a vacation, or something “other worldly” happens. You can’t believe she’s done it again, and you’re left doing most of the work. It never fails that when it’s time for accolades, she’s front and center. Secretly, you laugh to avoid crying or worse.

Thinking she’s the boss

Cue the side eye, “who asked you?” neck roll. This woman thinks she rules the roost, and is a complete know-it-all. You say to yourself, “Girl, you’ve been on this job 2 seconds, now you know everything?” No ma’am. Seriously, you have to maintain your composure and integrity. She’s always pointing out the mishaps in the team’s results and stating how she would have done things differently if asked for her input. Your professionalism outweighs your pettiness and you push through. Everyone knows she doesn’t light a candle to your outstanding performance.

She’s nosy

You can’t sneeze without her knowing about it. She may even have the audacity to tell someone else what she thinks she knows about you. If she’s not asking completely inappropriate questions, she’s helping stir the pot on who got fired and who’s having a secret relationship. You have to be careful with this woman. Her desire to invade your privacy can be disguised as concern for your well-being or livelihood. Do not be swayed—it’s a trap.

She’s a Negative Nancy

No matter what kind of great news you or accolade you received, you can always count on her being there to try and bring you down. She’s obsessed with what she doesn’t have — be it enough money, recognition or privileges — and she wants the world to know she is miserable. Her days are spent with incessant talk of how much she can’t wait to quit or how she wants your coworker or supervisor fired. It seems impossible to make her happy and these days, you’re mostly staying clear of her so that you don’t have to be dragged down by her negative attitudes.

Employees who enjoy their work and team members perform better. There’s no surefire way to avoid a workplace pest, but at least you’ll know how to spot her and steer clear.

Ashley Watkins, of Write Step Resumes, LLC, helps job seekers and career changers write their career dreams into reality one step at a time.  She can be found on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, or via www.WriteStepResumes.com for resume help, interview prep, career tips, and motivational quotes.

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Do You Rub Your Coworkers The Wrong Way? 5 Types Of Employees You Never Want To Be  was originally published on hellobeautiful.com