'The ones who act superior to you': These are the worst types of coworkers to have in the workplace

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Ally Perry • Writer and Editor
Nov 11, 2025 9:00 AM EST

There is no type of relationship that is more make-or-break than that between coworkers. While these may only be surface-level connections for many, they have a greater impact on our lives than some like to claim. These are the people that we spend up to 8+ hours a day with, multiple times a week, often in working environments where we have plenty to complain about. We rely on them to help targets be achieved and for business to run smoothly, so we can keep our jobs that allow us to earn a living. Even in the age of widespread hybrid working, the individuals that we work with matter on multiple different levels.

All this is to say that when we find our colleagues unpleasant or annoying, it can have a huge impact on our personal well-being and ability to withstand the pressures that inevitably come with being in the workplace. There are a lot of employees out there who do not have the makings of a good coworker. 

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    a man leans back in his desk chair while wearing a headset, with a woman sitting behind him also wearing a headset
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • Almost anyone who has spent enough time in the working world has a tale or two about a coworker that they couldn't stand, and some of them are real horror stories. You never appreciate your quiet, non-distracting, and pleasantry-exchanging colleagues more than when an annoying fellow employee is still fresh in your memory. What's worse is that there are a multitude of ways in which people can be horrible to work with, and many of them have been listed out by disgruntled workers here.

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    Worst type of coworkers to work with?
    via Novel-Ad4663
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    Mskittylover97 The one that thinks he or she is the manager
    via Mskittylover97
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    fadingsunsetglow The kind that do nothing. These people also seem to be the ones that complain the most.
    via fadingsunsetglow
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    hookes_plasticity Nosy. Personal lives and work lives are separate and some people I work with cannot comprehend that.
    via hookes_plasticity
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    Marquedien "We're like family here."
    via Marquedien
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    Prime88 The ones who bring up extraneous work that "need" to be done to sound smart in a meeting but are expecting someone else to do it.
    via Prime88
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    Clever Tool Micro-manager bosses.
    via CleverTool
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    9ScoreAnd 10Panties Yogurt cup abusers. Scrape scrape scrape scrape scrrrrrrape scrape scrape scrape scrrrrrrape scrape scrape scrrrrrrape scrape scrrrrrrape scrape scrrrrrrape scrape scrape scrape scrape scrape scrrrrrrape scrrrrrrape scrrrrrrape scrape scrape scrape scrrrrrrape scrrrrrrape scrrrrrrape scrrrrrrape scrape scrape scrape scrape scrape Scrape scrape scrape scrape scrrrrrrape scrape scrape scrape
    via 9ScoreAnd10Pantes
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    a woman talks on her phone while gesturing to the laptop on her desk
    via Vitaly Gariev

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

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    SilentPanther70 I have a coworker who is jealous that I was selected for a promotion. To preface, I have worked my butt off for it. He is lazy, barely gets anything done, and calls off all the time. He quit over this, and I had to do his job and mine over the last month. He did not work out at his new job. He got his old job back with my old employer, and even got his full time hours back. All of this and I haven't even been promoted yet. Now he wants to play nice... I hate him and I will never
    via SilentPanther70
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    Appropriate-Door1369 The ones that feel the need to tell you all their problems in their personal lives
    via Appropriate-Door1369
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    adamsauce People who complain a lot. Negative people bring me down.
    via adamsauce
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    Shoddy-Reason2193 Ones that never stfu. Like, every inhale and exhale is accompanied by words. Needless yammering. Repeating the same bs rotation every fifteen seconds. Energy vampires, really.
    via Shoddy-Reason2193
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    Dissenting_Dowager Someone who lies about small things. When they do that, I write them off. They'll lie about everything.
    via Dissenting_Dowager
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    Fast-Yogurtcloset468 The ones who act superior to you when you both literally have the same job??
    via Fast-Yoghurtcloset468
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    Apprehensive-End 9358 The ones that are very in your business about what you're eating
    via Apprehensive-End9358
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    a man looks over a woman's shoulder as she sits at a laptop with a takeout coffee cup beside her
    via Vitaly Gariev

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

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    jazzyx26 The undermining ones.
    via jazzyx26
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    YummYummBumm Knowledge Hoarders - often company knowledge is historical and not written down. It's tribal stories. Just tell me the answer or point me to it so I can do my own legwork and learn it. I know you think it gives you job security or makes you feel important but mostly it just makes you a jerk.
    via YummYummBumm
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    Jon HammsHog I had one prick on my team who texted me asking when I'd be back to work when I was deathly ill in the hospital and had the audacity to be pissed when I didn't answer immediately
    via JonHammsHog
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    Goodygumdops The ones that snack on crunchy food all day.
    via Goodygumdops
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    KiwiSprinkles The ones that don't do what they are paid to do and yet they are still employed for some reason
    via KiwiSprinkles

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