Registrars Directory™

It's true that many bosses these days aren't winning many popularity contests. But guess what? Employees aren't exactly the most joyful people either, and they are everywhere. In banks, coffee shops, restaurants and just about every other type of establishment in which people are interacting with other people, there's bound to be one rotten apple. This article narrows the list down to some common types of bad and disruptive behaviour exhibited by employees.

The Latecomer - For whatever reason, this individual doesn't show up to work on time and they can't be held accountable because of external conditions beyond their control. On Monday my toilet overflowed and I had to call a plumber, on Tuesday the bus drivers were on strike, on Wednesday I got a flat tire and I didn't have a spare so I had to call a tow truck, and on and on and on.....

The Slacker - Goofing off in the office takes many forms, and this guy/girl knows them all. Coasting through the day by taking time to write non-work related e-mails, playing online games, disappearing for two hour lunches and answering personal phone calls is very irritating to employees who are busy with company business.

The Complainer - These people don't have a nice thing to say about anybody or anything. Life stinks for them, they want you to know just how much it stinks and are a tremendous drain on everyone else. Whatever you do, do not tell them something like, "It's not that bad," or "Cheer up!" because they will interpret this as a sign that you are not taking their pain seriously, and will complain even more to convince you things are really as bad as they say.

The Thief - Kleptomania is not confined to large department stores. Whatever can be inserted into pockets and handbags is ripe for the picking. Believe it or not, some employees crave pens, pencils, even sticky notes. The root of this behaviour is hard to pin down, but it might be because the employee hates the boss or a more sinister mental complication could be at work.

The Comedian - Hearing jokes and amusing anecdotes is enjoyable most of the time, but the office clown doesn't know where to draw the line. Not everybody will be receptive to any or all kinds of humor, and besides, isn't there work to be done?

The Hypochondriac - This is just annoying, plain and simple. This person will refuse to handle anything you give to them. He or she will not touch doorknobs, a computer keyboard or any other office equipment and will moan and groan about the smallest injury or ailment. Not surprisingly, they aren't at work too often.

Not only do these people infuriate co-workers and the boss, but they are harder to fire because if a bad employee even senses that he/she is about to get the axe, they will launch all kinds of legal procedures on their behalf to protect themselves. But that's not the worst of it. A bad employee is tough to spot, and can be deceptively charming and/or hardworking during an interview.

Remember, they are everywhere. You've been warned.