LinkedIn Study: Top Office Pet Peeves Revealed In Global Survey

The perils of working a nine-to-five can test even the sanest of office workers.

Americans find people who steal their food the most irritating, while office gossip truly annoys Brazilians.

Those are some of the findings from a new LinkedIn study that uncovers the top office pet peeves throughout the world.

In a survey of 17,000 people, the findings also showed the Japanese don't appreciate office pranks, just as Indians find annoying ringtones to be the most blood boiling habit. If you happen to be in Germany, make sure you clean up after yourself, because dirty common areas frustrate the Germans more than any other nation.

According to LinkedIn's infographic, India was the country with the most office pet peeves, while Italy had the fewest and the U.S. fell in the middle, the Financial Post reported.

Meanwhile, the study also looked at gender. A majority of American women surveyed (62%) were most irked by inappropriate clothing, but only 29% of American men felt that was a problem.

Yet there are some things that irritate people no matter what culture or gender. The number one pet peeve of all professionals worldwide? People not taking ownership for their actions ranking at 78%.

In an interview with Forbes, Nicole Williams, LinkedIn's Connection Director said "Many just don't realize their behavior may be annoying, and it can be a career killer if you never correct it. Young employees may also take the feedback personally and overreact."

Williams explained in a press statement, brushing it under the carpet is not the answer. "It is crucial for you to solve the annoyance before it disrupts your work performance and career."

But if the findings of this LinkedIn survey still haven't calmed you, why not contribute to a website called AnnoyingCoworker.com. Not only can you vent your frustrations anonymously, but you can also commiserate with other people ticked off from over sharing or inconsiderate colleagues.

Comments

[John MacInnes]

10:43 AM on 10/11/2011

People who don't collect their print jobs from the printer.

[catrancher]

04:23 PM on 09/30/2011

I am also childless. Over the years parent co workers have taken advantage of me. I have been forced to work their shifts or complete their work because of their sick child and baby sitter problems.

When I started the job I have now it started the very first week I was there. I decided not to let it happen again.

When the boss called me in to tell me I would have to cover for a parent co worker, I explained I was responsible for the 24 hour care of my elderly mother in law. I told him I had someone to take care of her during my working hours, but the rest of the time she needed me. I told him I would need advanced notice to make arrangements for her care.

Now I get plenty of advanced notice to work around other's vacations and personal days off, but I no longer get taken advantage of. We are all treated fairly and it feels very refreshing.

My mother in law doesn't even live in the same state. =^..^=

[Absolute]

09:09 AM on 09/30/2011

Don't steal from me, don't lie to me, don't lie about me, don't share malicious gossip. If you follow those rules I will pretend to be your friend.

[ninjasrolled]

01:21 AM on 09/30/2011

I used to work for a financial planner as his office manager. The first time I had to hire someone, I went through extensive, exhaustive interviews, carefully weighing pros and cons, etc etc. Once I got into the job, however, my hiring process was basically, "I don't care where you worked or what college you went to. Are you going to listen to me and do what I tell you, and do you have any annoying habits I need to be aware of?"

After years in two industries as a hiring professional, my interviews take five minutes, and I am known for putting together stellar teams. My secret? See the above.

[Disketta]

11:13 PM on 09/29/2011

My top peeve is people who whine for special attention, including parents who expect childless people to cover for them constantly and don't ask personally but go to the boss to force you. It should be illegal. Bosses who play favorites for their whine-buddies are a close second. I have worked in many offices. I wish people would stick to stinking up the microwave!!!

[drini]

02:24 AM on 09/30/2011

I abhor the office pool contributions for birthdays, showers, and other forced get togethers. I don't believe that office friendships are based on anything other than mutual Stockholm Syndrome.

My last corporate job the boss WOULDN'T give me my check until I could recite the company "mission" statement, word for word.....seriously!

I despise the fake "mission" statement culture, especially since it's just lip service.

[ILoveGreatDanes]

05:07 AM on 09/30/2011

Disketta, as a childless lady who worked for small doctor's offices my entire career, that happened to me many times. There were only two technicians, and I had to handle all the work singlehandedly, while my coworker was at home with the "sick child." They also use the "I don't have a babysitter," excuse. They'll use it all the way up until they stop showing up because they're tired of the job.

[satyrday]

10:26 PM on 09/29/2011

I absolutely hate it, when the guy next to you is eating tuna fish from a can, while singing Air Supply songs, and he starts flinging boogers over the divider at you. And you try to dodge them, but they still end up splashing your coffee all over your pictures of Tonya Harding.

Then he comes over, and takes all of the wheels off of your chair, and he flips your screen sideways, so that you get a massive cramp in your neck. And then he starts digging through your pockets, trying to find 1943 pennies, because he thinks they're so cool.

Don't you all just HATE that?

[signgrrl]

10:14 PM on 09/29/2011

customers who do not / will not understand this:

Lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part.

[Vic22]

09:23 PM on 09/29/2011

Indians hate annoying ringtones? I work in IT, for an Indian company, and have been to India. I have never seen one use vibrate on their phone ever. That's probably why they are annoyed, peoples phones are always going off (and a lot of them never change from the default ring tone)

[Renee27]

08:26 PM on 09/29/2011

Study Finds Youths Don't Follow Office Politics -

http://www.thoughtiswack.com/OfficePoliticsandYouths.html

[Addis09]

09:51 PM on 09/29/2011

fanned & faved...lol

[ylobrkrd]

09:53 PM on 09/29/2011

It's the Onion, right? It's a joke, right? Stealing others food and office supplies is not politics. It's just common courtesy, right?
I hated office pols and it's true about getting less money yada yada. But I had to weigh it against sanity cause it was a crazeeee place. The boss was certifiable. Well, it was a bank come to think of it.

[Addis09]

10:18 PM on 09/29/2011

Yes, of course it's a joke! Politics is fundamentally about power. When a petty employee like Shawna Davis sticks her nose into everything, it's not out genuine concern for the corporation. It's about elevating herself and burying her colleagues.

I feel ya on your hatred of office politics - lord knows a good deal of my blog posts have been inspired by office politicians.

Addis
http://www.thoughtiswack.com/StupidEmployees.html

[Renee27]

09:05 PM on 09/30/2011

Yes its the Onion :)

[cinemaven]

07:59 PM on 09/29/2011

My biggest pet peeves are the boss workers. They disrupt things all day mindlessly droning on about idiocy and then, when the boss arrives, they are the most industrious little worker bees in the hive. They know everything about the bosses fave team, sport, hobby and even though they manage to evade work 90% of the time, they're quick to report to the boss about the habits of everyone else.

I also dislike people who think perfume or Axe body spray is a substitute for a shower, people who think working together means we're best friends and guys who think they're funny, especially when their idea of funny is sexist/racist/misogynist.

I love co-workers who work and who don't gossip or complain all day long. I like having fun but if I'm going to be talking about a tv show, it'll be during my break. If I commit to having something done by Wednesday, it'll be done so I expect the same from co-workers.

*lol* this article hit a chord

[Linda Gibson]

06:55 PM on 09/29/2011

9 to 5??? Who works those hours?? That doesn't exist anymore.

[philhellene]

06:23 PM on 09/29/2011

People at meetings, when you are about ready to make a point, interrupt you.

Worked at a consulting firm once, we had a common library of government regs and manuals - people who did not return them. Spent at least 10 minutes, going to 22 people, to find the one I needed for that day. Finally, I began copying them and made my own library.

[runswithscissors]

06:17 PM on 09/29/2011

Upper management pretending that they have no say in everyday decisions. Just make a decision and then own it.
Subordinates who think that every task assigned is an attack against them.
People who microwave any type of seafood without regard to the awful smell left behind.
Customers who believe their whims to be above the laws of nature. If what you're asking is impossible, there is nothing that I can do to help you.
A$$-kissers.
The guy who hasn't seen a shower since 1994.
Our computer system, which hasn't seen an update since 1994.
Corporate buzzwords.
Grammatical errors from someone with a 6-digit salary.
Company outings (especially when work is still the number 1 topic of conversation).

[signgrrl]

07:37 PM on 09/29/2011

#4 is my "favorite"

[alahnar]

07:51 PM on 09/29/2011

Grammatical and spelling errors from people with six-figure salaries also makes my blood boil.

[ylobrkrd]

09:57 PM on 09/29/2011

computers that are fifteen years old that are constantly down. Good one and really the worst. But worse than that is working and doing input all day only to find out you have to do all the input the next day because there was a clich in the giddyap machine. Of course you are informed by your looney boss who can't simply explain it but has to act like you are the saboteur.

[Bill Koerner]

05:55 PM on 09/29/2011

I hate people that sit at their desk, and post comments on the internet all day!

Course, this is merely 'market research', so it does not fall into that category....

[signgrrl]

07:38 PM on 09/29/2011

of course . . . . . ;-)

[ILoveGreatDanes]

05:13 AM on 09/30/2011

The CEO of Metro public bus lines in my hometown of Houston, Texas just got suspended (not fired) for surfing the web looking at naughty pictures all day. He was in his 60s. Can you believe that? He really didn't know his online activites at work were tracked. He was more naive than I thought.

[blacksmithn]

05:53 PM on 09/29/2011

I once had somebody remove my lunch from the fridge, eat the tuna out of my sandwich and place the bread back in the lunch. Like I was going to think-- wow, I went real light on the tuna today!

[signgrrl]

07:38 PM on 09/29/2011

EEWWWWW

[blacksmithn]

08:24 PM on 09/29/2011

Yeah. Needless to say, I bought my lunch that day.

[Brian Gorrell]

08:16 PM on 09/29/2011

That is throat punching behaviour!

[blacksmithn]

08:23 PM on 09/29/2011

Agreed, except I work in a large office and hadn't the faintest idea who deserved the punch.