'[She's] a never ending negative Nancy': Top Toxic Coworkers of the Week (January 11, 2024)

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Jan 11, 2024 8:00 AM EST

It doesn't matter what your work environment is… there will always be some of the same personalities when it comes to one's coworkers. There's the person who is so optimistic it's annoying. There's the person who is always cold. There's the person who is always hot. There's the office flirt. There's the one who never gets anything done. There's the one who pretends they are your boss when they're your equal. I could go on…

These top coworker stories address some of the common coworker caricatures we see from office to office mixed in with some scandalous workplace drama. We might still be just barely into the new year, but it seems like the toxic workplace stories are back in full force thanks to Karen managers, tone-deaf bosses, competitive colleagues, and horrendous HR representatives. 

Keep scrolling below for the full stories. When you're done, feel free to take a look at this compilation of unfortunate job applications.

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  • 01
    "I'd maybe throw [her] a bone if it weren't EVERY SINGLE DAY"
    via Sigmund
  • 02

    #1: The tale of the gross coworker and her rotten food

    My coworker has taken the entire fridge for her rotten food My coworker (56F) has monopolized the entire office fridge for her rotten food. I work in a small office- 5 to 6 people on a full day, which it rarely is. Almost nobody uses the tiny office mini fridge except for keeping creamer or the occasional condiment- all except for me, and my one gross coworker.
    via u/Velmabutgoth
  • 03
    I usually bring a frozen microwave meal, but I have been trying to bring more things like salads and leftovers. It's become a struggle to fit even one little container in the fridge in between her multiple bags and Tupperware full of rotted, months old food. She has multiple salads, and a few open packages of hot dogs, that have been there for at least a month or two.
    via u/Velmabutgoth
  • 04
    When I first started, she asked me to clean the fridge. It's not remotely my job, but I was happy to pitch in. That is until I found that the freezer and bottom of the fridge was FULL of old meat juice- like the defrosting run off from her packages of bacon and burgers that she liked to microwave. I almost threw up, so luckily my boss hired a profesional cleaner.
    via u/Velmabutgoth
  • 05
    Everyone is aware of the gross fridge and that it's her fault- my boss even opened up a container of rotted salad once and joked about how disgusting the smell was. I am frustrated as heck because I want to eat healthier / not buy subway every day, but I don't even feel comfortable putting my food in there, and I don't know how to tell her to be an adult and CLEAN UP AFTER YOURSELF! Advice welcome.
    via u/Velmabutgoth
  • 06
    EDIT to add that unfortunatly getting my own refrigerator is not an option. I asked about that once already, and the buisness owners also own this building we operate out of, and they dont want to risk having a cheap fridge under my desk in case it were to break down and cause electrical/ water damage, nor do they want the increase in electrical use. I can understand that decision.
    via u/Velmabutgoth
  • 07
    I do however think I will be investing in a high quality lunch box that will keep my salads fresh for the 5 hours between locking my front door and clocking in to lunch! Thanks everyone!
    via u/Velmabutgoth
  • 08

    #2: The tale of the coworker's outburst

    coworker shoved me today I just need to vent! This coworker of mine is the shift lead and I have no clue what I did to get on her nerves but she has no shame in treating me like : in front of workers and no one notices. She purposely puts me on jobs no one wants like cleaning bathrooms, restocking while we are extremely busy, and just overall doesn't treat me right.
    via u/CapitalAnalyst3945
  • 09
    Today was an extremely busy day since it's a free drink day (I work at a soda shop), and she just shoves me aside and says "oh I can make that" and there are no lie 6 other people who saw and didn't say anything.
    via u/CapitalAnalyst3945
  • 10
    What makes me more mad is the manager was there and she LOVES this coworker, and everyone else does too so I don't feel like I am able to say anything to my manager and request I don't work with her anymore. I also don't want to start any drama, but everytime I see we work together I dread it because she grinds my gears so much.
    via u/CapitalAnalyst3945
  • 11
    sphinxyhiggins · 5 days ago If you don't address this now, you will be abused again. Bullies usually find people who won't fight back -- it's the only way they survive. What that person did was assault. No one has the right to put hands on you.
    via u/CapitalAnalyst3945
  • 12
    shelltrice 5 days ago Not sure where you are located, but in my area every single food/beveral establishment has help wanted signs. Also true for retail and other service positions. It is hard to get reliable workers. I would give notice and tell your manager/owner exactly why you are leavig and hope the next employee is better treated. Good luck
    via u/CapitalAnalyst3945
  • 13

    #3: The tale of an illicit affair

    I think my coworkers might be having an affair Our department hired "Kate" about 3 years ago, right in the middle of the pandemic. I didn't work with her directly during that time, so I didn't really start to get to know her until we came back to the office about a year and a half ago.
    via u/GinnyT0nic
  • 14
    I was surprised when we all returned to find that even though I hadn't gotten too familiar with her yet, my coworker "Dan" had. It sort of makes sense-he trained her. I suppose I was just taken aback by their familiarity. They're peas in a pod. They have a lot in common and it's obvious they enjoy each others company.
    via u/GinnyT0nic
  • 15
    I didn't think much of it at first. Everyone's allowed a work bff, and Kate is friendly and pleasant. I can see why Dan took to her. But then I started to notice things, like the way they would look or even stare at each other during meetings. Dan has a private office, and it's not unusual for Kate to spent chunks of time each day in there with the door shut (there are no windows and there have been plenty of other times when the two of them have been working in there and have kept the door open
    via u/GinnyT0nic
  • 16
    Recently, Dan, Kate, and I have been working on a project together and I've come to realize that the two of them text regularly out of office hours. I know this because Kate will mention that Dan brought something up about the project "while we were texting last night." I've tried texting Dan during off hours before and he usually brushes me off, saying we can discuss it at work. They're both married and it all seems a little shady to me. I don't plan on involving myself, but I had to get it off
    via u/GinnyT0nic
  • 17

    #4: The tale of the copycat

    copying Is my coworker everything I do or am I overreacting? My job hired this new girl a few months ago and she seats next to me everyday. Most of the time we are always busy but during downtime or days where my boss is off we have the chance to talk. Recently I realized that she may be copying everything I do or wanting to be like me but I don't know if I'm looking for things that don't exists.
    via u/medusv
  • 18
    2 months ago one of my favorite clients gifted me an evil eye bracelet, it was unexpected, she also gifted other types of bracelets and necklaces to the entire office but I was the only one with the evil eye. I got excited and wore it that same day, she asked what it meant and I explained to her it's to protect yourself from jealousy and people wishing bad on you but it only works if someone else gives it you, you can't buy it. Three or four days later I look at her wrist and she was wearing an
    via u/medusv
  • 19
    to her "out of nowhere". I thought that was really weird when she didn't even knew about it until she saw mine but I brushed it off. I do pilates at home and I was talking to another coworker about it and giving her recommendations, she overheard our conversation and asked me to send her exactly my routine. I sent her my routine and brushed it off again cause who am I to gatekeep right? Around thanksgiving I was telling another coworker about this cute guy that works in the same building as us a
    via u/medusv
  • 20
    and changed the topic. Last week I was talking to another coworker about perfumes, we are both obsessed with perfumes so we were comparing and basically giving reviews on popular ones we have tried. I showed my coworker my favorite perfume, the one I have been wearing since 2017 and she took a picture of it and say she was going to wear it to work. I was talking to my boss about restaurants and showed him a list I made with recommendations I got from TT of places to try and she asked me to send
    via u/medusv
  • 21
    didn't) because she wants to try them. And a few days ago I showed her this cute eyelash set I found on TT and wanted to try because the person in the video has similar eyes to mine (big-non hooded). She asked me to send her the video, I did and she sent it to her lash tech and asked her to replicate it and it's going to do so on Friday (she has small-hooded eyes btw).
    via u/medusv
  • 22
    I don't mind being inspired by someone's life but literally wanting to do or try everything I do it's irritating. It's like she has no personality of her own. She even does it with food I eat like I could be craving an specific type of food and suddenly she's craving the same thing. Gosh, am I overreacting??
    via u/medusv
  • 23

    #5: The tale of an eternal complainer

    My coworker complains about the same exact thing every day I've worked at a medical office for almost 3 years now. I sit near the back in my own office and generally keep to myself during the work day. My coworker, a receptionist, has cycled through the same 3 complaints every day for the past 2 years or so. They're either "soooo cold", "sooooo tired" or "soooo hungry". On a super whiney day, they're all three.
    via u/liagib6777
  • 24
    This wouldn't be so much of an issue if this person wasn't announcing any one of these complaints at the same exact time they're walking past my office door each day, while simultaneously sighing and making it known they want this complaint to be heard. Not exactly saying it to me, as my back faces the door while I work, but saying it where I can hear it.
    via u/liagib6777
  • 25
    Aside from this regularly observed pet peeve, we get along just fine. We're not super close, but have always been friendly with each other. I just can't help but feel like this person is fishing for sympathy or confirmation or something? I'd maybe throw a bone if it weren't EVERY SINGLE DAY. At some point though, you'd think an extra layer of clothing, extra coffee/sleep, and a good eating schedule might make more sense than choosing to complain about the same. exact. things. every. single. day.
    via u/liagib6777
  • 26
    Do they not realize they're doing it? Is it something I maybe should mention to them so they know how annoying it is to hear? Or is it completely conscious and they choose to be negative and whiney and complain all the time? Anyone else deal with a never ending negative nancy?
    via u/liagib6777

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