The high 9 workplace peeves for employees… so what number of wind YOU up?

Is there anything worse at work than seeing the person next to you coast through the day doing absolutely nothing and smugly waltzing out the door five minutes early?

Or at least anything that they do get on with is done so poorly that it ends up having to be done again by someone else.

Apparently not – for incompetent colleagues like The Office’s David Brent are the most annoying thing at work, according to a study by YouGov. 

Two thirds (66 per cent) of Brits find people doing their jobs badly annoying, closely followed by not being given the information you need (56 per cent) and being micro-managed (52 per cent).

The survey of more than 1,000 workers, commissioned by the conciliation service Acas, asked about a range of button-pushing workplace experiences including not getting the credit you deserve, not being listened to and selfish colleagues.

Ricky Gervais as David Brent in the British TV show The Office. Two thirds (66 per cent) of Brits find people doing their jobs badly annoying, closely followed by not being given the information you need (56 per cent) and being micro-managed (52 per cent)

Ricky Gervais (left) pictured as David Brent, with MacKenzie Crook as Gareth Keenan in the BBC sitcom

Acas said annoying workplace behaviours can have a negative impact on relationships and productivity, and can eventually lead to disputes if unresolved.

Not being respected at work (42 per cent) was the fourth most annoying thing about a job according to the survey, with similar issues around not getting credit for your work (39 per cent) and not being listened to (38 per cent) also plaguing a large chunk of UK employees.

Participants were asked to select up to five pet peeves that they would specifically find irritating at work from a shortlist.

If those surveyed had not experienced one of the irritants listed, or if it was unlikely to present itself in their role, they were asked to imagine whether the prompt would annoy them.

Stock photo of a moody boss complaining to a team about a mistake. Only a stoic three per cent of those involved in the study said none of the behaviours would get on their nerves

The less commonly chosen options rounding off the list were someone not being a team player (38 per cent),being given too much work (28 per cent) and not being included (19 per cent).

Only a stoic three per cent of those involved in the study said none of the behaviours would get on their nerves.

Director of dispute resolution at Acas, Kate Nowicki, said workplace relationships can sometimes deteriorate.

‘Whether it is lack of clarity or recognition, a personality clash or something else, these bad behaviours may seem relatively minor, but they can have a cumulative and detrimental effect on people at work.

‘When a relationship breaks down, it can be difficult or even impossible for a workplace to function.

‘This can increase stress, impact productivity and may ultimately lead to bullying or harassment claims.

‘If that happens, Acas mediators can help workers find their voice and resolve differences without the cost and stress of more formal procedures such as an employment tribunal.’

Acas’s mediation service is a way of mending relationships at work, held by an impartial mediator who works to find a solution everyone can agree to.

The process aims to find working solutions to disagreements and is voluntary, confidential, flexible, less formal and not usually legally binding.

Acas can supply independent and impartial mediators who work with everyone involved to help solve workplace disagreements. In 2019 to 2020, 76 per cent of Acas-led mediations were fully or partially resolved.

Acas also offers a 5-day, accredited Certificate in Internal Workplace Mediation training course. The group has trained over 4,000 internal workplace mediators how to confidently deal with disagreements at work, before they become bigger and more costly disputes.