It’s almost inevitable that companies end up with a few bad apples, even after employees have been screened and trained.
Your boss and coworkers know when someone is a gossip, a slacker, or untrustworthy. Bad behavior doesn’t go unnoticed. But it gets trickier when the trouble is with you.
Here are 14 signs the problem employee at your job is actually you so you can avoid making mistakes that could compromise your spot in the workplace.
Get paid up to $225 a month while watching viral videos
Instead of sitting around watching viral videos on YouTube, you could be getting paid actual cash taking surveys for InboxDollars instead.
It's simple. You sign up here and confirm your email. Then you watch videos and take surveys. Then you earn cash (yes, actual cash … not "points"). Log in during your spare time and see how you can earn up to an extra $225 every month.
BONUS: Free $5 when you sign up, confirm your email and phone.
Sign up and start getting paid today
Always late
Getting to your job on time is the single most basic responsibility an employee has. This is not complicated or up for debate. You need to be at work when your shift starts.
Yes, life can be unpredictable, and emergencies pop up from time to time. But when that happens, call your supervisor so they’re aware.
But if you’re habitually late, that’s much more serious. It’s a drag on your boss and your coworkers and shows that you don’t respect the job.
Want to learn how to build wealth like the 1%? Sign up for Worthy to get ideas and advice delivered to your inbox.
The bare minimum is good enough for you
Doing the bare minimum — also known as quiet quitting — isn’t a particularly high bar to hit. It’s nothing more than cruising through your shift and avoiding work.
It might keep you from getting fired, but it isn’t doing you any favors either. Your boss will notice, your coworkers will notice, and your reputation will take a severe hit.
Blaming others
Owning up to your mistakes is one of life’s more important early lessons. Chances are your parents didn’t put up with the blame game for long when you were a kid. Now that you’re in the workforce, your bosses and colleagues won’t either.
Accepting responsibility for when you’ve messed up and rectifying the situation is the mature option. Acting like a child and scapegoating someone else will raise serious questions about how you handle yourself.
Resolve $10,000 or more of your debt
Credit card debt is suffocating. It constantly weighs on your mind and controls every choice you make. You can end up emotionally and even physically drained from it. And even though you make regular payments, it feels like you can never make any progress because of the interest.
National Debt Relief could help you resolve your credit card debt with an affordable plan that works for you. Just tell them your situation, then find out your debt relief options.1 <p>Clients who are able to stay with the program and get all their debt settled realize approximate savings of 46% before fees, or 25% including our fees, over 12 to 48 months. All claims are based on enrolled debts. Not all debts are eligible for enrollment. Not all clients complete our program for various reasons, including their ability to save sufficient funds. Estimates based on prior results, which will vary based on specific circumstances. We do not guarantee that your debts will be lowered by a specific amount or percentage or that you will be debt-free within a specific period of time. We do not assume consumer debt, make monthly payments to creditors or provide tax, bankruptcy, accounting or legal advice or credit repair services. Not available in all states. Please contact a tax professional to discuss tax consequences of settlement. Please consult with a bankruptcy attorney for more information on bankruptcy. Depending on your state, we may be available to recommend a local tax professional and/or bankruptcy attorney. Read and understand all program materials prior to enrollment, including potential adverse impact on credit rating.</p>
How to get National Debt Relief to help you resolve your debt: Sign up for a free debt assessment here. (Do not skip this step!) By signing up for a free assessment, National Debt Relief can assist you in settling your debt, but only if you schedule the assessment.
Coworkers don’t want to deal with you
If nobody in the office wants to work with you, it’s a pretty good sign that you’re the problem. Maybe a coworker politely declines a collaboration effort or is more upfront and vocal about it.
The occasional personality clash is normal. Being wholly shunned or ostracized by the team is not. It might be time for a chat with your boss about how to work on the situation.
Ego
Confidence is a good thing. Having a nightmarish, outsized ego is not. There’s a big difference between being sure of yourself and being a smug know-it-all.
If you find yourself complaining — either to yourself or anyone who’ll listen — about how dumb your colleagues are, it’s time to take a hard look at your own behavior.
Don’t let confidence bleed over into arrogance.
Trending Stories
Excuses, excuses
This covers everything from being late and forgetting assignments to botching project deadlines and more.
If you’re frequently making excuses for what you did or didn’t do, then that’s a big problem. You might hope that others will forget or forgive, but they won’t, even if you think you’re justified.
Gossiping all the time
It’s one thing to be a good conversationalist and shoot the breeze with your coworkers when it’s appropriate. It’s quite another to be a the forefront of the rumor mill.
People talk. That in and of itself can’t be stopped since workspaces are closed ecosystems and people are people. Nonstop gabbing and backbiting, however, can lead to big trouble, especially if you’re the primary culprit.
Gossiping can also be perceived as bullying or harassment. If a coworker thinks they’re being targeted, that could invite legal issues.
Issues with authority
Unless you’re independently wealthy, you need to be able to take direction. Even CEOs have to report to a company’s board of directors, who are beholden to shareholders in return.
Everyone has a boss. Don’t get defensive or irritated. If you can’t follow orders from supervisors, you’re going to have a really hard time maintaining a steady job.
Micromanaging coworkers
News flash: Your coworkers already have a boss, and it isn’t you. If your colleagues look to you for advice, that’s great. It shows that you’re a leader in the office.
But if you’re constantly doling out unwanted tips — even if you think you’re being helpful or telling people to do things the “right” way from your perspective — it’s not going to endear you to anyone.
Earn cash back on everyday purchases with this rare account
Want to earn cash back on your everyday purchases without using a credit card? With the Discover®️ Cashback Debit Checking account (member FDIC), you can earn 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month!2 <p>See website for details.</p>
With no credit check to apply and no monthly fees to worry about, you can earn nearly passive income on purchases you’re making anyway — up to an extra $360 a year!
This rare checking account has other great perks too, like access to your paycheck up to 2 days early with Early Pay, no minimum deposit or monthly balance requirements, over 60K fee-free ATMs, and the ability to add cash to your account at Walmart stores nationwide.
Don’t leave money on the table — it only takes minutes to apply and it won’t impact your credit score.
Oversharing
Nobody needs to hear the intimate details of your personal life in a professional setting. By that same token, it’s unlikely your coworkers care what you had for breakfast or any other excruciating, mundane tidbit.
If someone asks you, all right, fair play. But generally speaking, being a blabbermouth lands in the “don’t do this” category.
Needlessly nosey
Being nosey about your coworkers’ personal lives is a little bit like the inverse of oversharing.
If a colleague comes to you with a question or a problem, or volunteer details, it means they trust you to handle that information. If they don’t — well, they don’t. It’s as simple as that.
Do not, under any circumstances, badger your coworkers for private details they aren’t comfortable sharing. Your boss isn’t allowed to dig for personal information, either.
Spiraling at the smallest inconvenience
Professionals don’t unravel at the slightest problem. If you find yourself constantly complaining that the demands of a job are too high but your colleagues are managing just fine, the issue may be with you.
If the situation feels grim or unfair, have a conversation with your manager. But don’t catastrophize something minor. It isn’t the end of the world.
Violating company policy
Egregious violations of company policy lead to unceremonious termination. That’s it. Full stop.
Every company and HR department has an employee handbook. Familiarize yourself with it. The Employee Law Handbook is also a useful resource for state and federal laws.
Wasting company time
Personal matters should be dealt with on your own time, not during work hours.
Of course, there are times when emergencies come up, but nobody should be painting their nails, messaging their friends, or shopping online when they’re clocked in.
The same goes for the aforementioned gossips, busybodies, and oversharers who bounce from coworker to coworker to chat.
Bottom line
It’s easy to spot problematic behavior in others. It’s far more difficult to recognize those traits in yourself, but it can be done — especially if you want to hold on to your job and advance in your career.
If you act like the rules don’t apply to you, that might end up being true — because you won’t have a job anymore.
You can change things if you want to. It just takes some effort. And don’t be afraid to explore a new career if you know you’ll be happier or it will help you start building wealth.
Subscribe Today
Want extra-cash moves to come right to you?
Stop browsing endlessly. Get proven ways to earn pocket money, help cover rent, and crush your debt — sent to your inbox daily.