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Some coworkers are just God sent. You make best friends, you fall in love, you meet your idols, you find your team players to climb up that long career ladder with. They make your lunch breaks less lonely, meetings funnier and deadlines… well, the deadlines are the same no matter what.

But sometimes your coworkers are just the opposite. They make doing your job harder than it already is, and everything in between way less enjoyable. If you are dealing with a coworker like that, let me tell you, you are not the only one. There are millions of people out there handling the most annoying, irrational, or even plain evil colleagues because… well, because it's what you’re supposed to do, right?

So if you're too tired to deal with this on your own, this post compiled by Bored Panda is a safe place to vent and talk about hard things. Pull your seat closer and scroll through the stories about coworkers from hell by sharing your own experiences in the comments below!

And when you're done, more stories about difficult coworkers await in our previous features here and here.

#1

All Of My Coworkers Agreed To Dress Up As Smurfs For Halloween. I'm The Only One To Go Through With It

All Of My Coworkers Agreed To Dress Up As Smurfs For Halloween. I'm The Only One To Go Through With It

Papa_Skittles Report

#2

My Coworker Told Me That Everyone Dressed Up At My Office. Now I’m The Only Person Dressed Like Captain Kirk Amongst Khakis And Polo Shirts

My Coworker Told Me That Everyone Dressed Up At My Office. Now I’m The Only Person Dressed Like Captain Kirk Amongst Khakis And Polo Shirts

DukeMaximum Report

#3

Yesterday This Guy Put Ghost Pepper Popcorn In Our Industrial Microwave At Work For Over 5 Minutes. The Office Was Filled With Black Smoke Burning People's Eyes

Yesterday This Guy Put Ghost Pepper Popcorn In Our Industrial Microwave At Work For Over 5 Minutes. The Office Was Filled With Black Smoke Burning People's Eyes

No one could breathe. He basically maced the building. We were moved to the other end so we could keep working.

StereoShayn Report

Bored Panda spoke with Christine Mitterbauer, a licensed and ICF-approved career coach and serial entrepreneur who shared some great insights on dealing with difficult coworkers. So pull your seat closer.

Mitterbauer said that “it’s important that you stand your ground and don’t let yourself be intimidated by difficult coworkers, whether they’re negative, talking down to you, or making your work difficult in any other way.”

“Of course, you can try to interact as little as possible with the coworker, but that isn’t always possible,” the career coach added. Moreover, a great skill to practice is becoming better at having difficult conversations, she said.

#4

As A Practical Joke, Some Co-Workers Wrapped My Office In Foil. In The Process, My 30" LCD Monitor Was Accidentally Turned On, And It Boiled Itself

As A Practical Joke, Some Co-Workers Wrapped My Office In Foil. In The Process, My 30" LCD Monitor Was Accidentally Turned On, And It Boiled Itself

Here's what it looked like when I unwrapped it

daroon Report

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zeljkoklaric78_1 avatar
Bernd Herbert
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I really hate such blatant waste of resources. The monitor, the tin foil

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#6

My Coworker Lied To My Boss That I Could Cover His Shift

My Coworker Lied To My Boss That I Could Cover His Shift

apollogamez60 Report

When dealing with difficult coworkers, always focus on the behavior you would like to address and which is bothering you, and never go down the road of stating negative traits or characteristics about that person, Mitterbauer argues.

“Stick to negative behavior as that’s more objective and can more easily be verified by everyone involved. Practice exactly what you want to say beforehand, and consider getting other allies on board as well. Sometimes it is necessary to involve management, but it’s often better to only do this once you can demonstrate to the manager what you yourself have attempted to tackle the issue,” she explained.

#7

I Work At A Place Where At The End Of Shifts We Split The Tips Evenly Between The 2-3 People That Work

I Work At A Place Where At The End Of Shifts We Split The Tips Evenly Between The 2-3 People That Work

We had more than 50$ of tips today and my coworker had to leave about 10 minutes early. She ended up taking all but ~2.50$ and management won't do anything about it.

TMOJBAR Report

#8

Someone Brought This To The Office Potluck

Someone Brought This To The Office Potluck

pasciiii Report

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#9

It's Always A Pleasure To Realize That Your Coworkers Don't Know How To Close A Box Properly... Right When You're Ready To Go Home

It's Always A Pleasure To Realize That Your Coworkers Don't Know How To Close A Box Properly... Right When You're Ready To Go Home

Thunder_SdSh Report

Most people have had coworkers they don’t get along with, Mitterbauer continues, but she says there’s a difference between not being great friends and them making your working life miserable. “When their behavior starts affecting your work and/or you are thinking about this issue in your free time, possibly dreading going to work the next day, that’s when it becomes an issue.”

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#10

Coworker Announced That She And Her SO Are Finally Pregnant, I Got Her A Box Of Pastries To Celebrate And When I The Party Was About To Start I Open The Fridge At Work And See This

Coworker Announced That She And Her SO Are Finally Pregnant, I Got Her A Box Of Pastries To Celebrate And When I The Party Was About To Start I Open The Fridge At Work And See This

Weyland223 Report

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kristenleighblount avatar
Fergus Corgi
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Whoever bit it was just trying to p**s people off. A normal food thief would just cut a piece off or just take the whole thing.

istvankozak avatar
kristakozak avatar
Munnin
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My maiden name is Kozak! I'm always excited to see another Kozak. I grew up in the 70s & 80s; I didn't see another Kozak until the 90s. There was also a TV show in the 70s about a loud bald cop called Kojak, so kids called me that as a way to make fun of me and my weird name. Such fun.

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ahkilahadams avatar
Ahkilah Adams
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In the pre - C days we'd have to guard things like this with our lives. Other departments did not care. They'd see food, wander over and help themselves. Didn't matter if you put up signs, taped things closed, there was always some jerk who didn't care.

arlenfreeman avatar
Arlen Freeman
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Easy solution is to make something too spicy for any human being, and leave it unattended. Repeat untill no one will touch your "food."

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Jazzy Mc. Jaz
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

one time a group of people made a cake to demonstrate a cell in my science class and some teacher took a bite of it when it was in the teachers lounge

suzkiser221 avatar
Susan Kiser
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ugh! I worked for an doc. It was a 2 story building. The doc office & our breakroom were upstairs. Two days a week he had a different location where he & the staff went. Our office mgr & myself are the only ones at the main office 2 days a week. She & I would order Chinese.. We usually had left overs for our meal the next day. We put them in the fridge. We found the doc kept helping himself to our food. He would even eat out of the container & put it back.. His saliva then being in what he didn’t help himself too. So one day there was some rice left & much to his surprise it was full of very very spicy food where we added some ingredients. We had to literally hide in her office door shut laughing. He stopped eating our lunch. He had a tech go to his home to move some cars & a boat. Doc’s dog had pooped on floor & doc told tech get it up. Tech said no not my dog. Doc said I’m your boss and tech said yeah in the office not here. Doc threatened him. Poop was left where it was.

jeannette_madsen_1 avatar
Libra Rising
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

All I wanna know is what the yellow pastry is. It either looks delicious or disgusting. I can't figure it out.

jnegraham avatar
Janet Graham
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Tacky and rude! At any of the places I worked, we would have known who did this. It might be funny to some. It might have started water works with a hormonal pregnant woman. I hope she felt honored in spite of it.

judyr8 avatar
Judy Riley
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It was my birthday. My daughter brought me a birthday cake with my name on it and left it in the staff fridge for me to take home to my other family for dinner. By my break time there were only crumbs left and people complained they didnt get a big enough piece, and why was I mad at them for not leaving me any. Turns out that 6 people ate the whole 3 layer 12" cake. I got written up for yelling at them that they ate my whole cake without even asking me!

stanangelo avatar
Stan Angelo
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You have a coworker problem and a boss problem and need to spice up the next cake then find new job.

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ambrypetersen avatar
Ambry Petersen
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looks like some one was jealous of the attention she was getting and ruin the food for everyone.

navyman1st avatar
Mike T
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We fired a guy at work for eating other peoples food, then refused to give reference when called.

stammon56 avatar
Mark Andreasen
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Had someone steal food from the fab shop fridge. So one of the guys made mini-sandwiches with a powerful laxative. A contractor pooped himself and then was told to get out.

kim_lorton avatar
Kim Lorton
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Such disrespect for others property, food, etc. they are the ones that eat your lunch!!

lzbthvandyke avatar
Elizabeth VanDyke
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My daughter made a cheesecake for me to take to work for two of my friends whose birthdays were very close to each other. I put it in the inspectors' office which was air conditioned to hold it until lunchtime. When my friends went into the inspectors' office, they discovered that the cheesecake was gone. Nothing left but crumbs. The maintenance crew said it was very good. They never asked who it belonged to.

bodhisattvasmith avatar
Bodhisattva Smith
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

At the hospital where I worked some people had a tendency to snag other people's snacks. One person left a note on some ice cream that said, Don't eat this, it's my ice cream. I spit in it." Another male nurse (there were about 5 of us and we clowned around a lot) added to the note, "I did too." (of course he didn't, but we thought it was hilarious).

damonhill avatar
Seadog
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Bank I worked at threw a bridal shower for a teller. When leaving she accidentally left the remainder of the cake (1/2 a sheet cake) in the roof and of course it fell off. Head teller and her assistant saw it, grabbed it and ate the whole thing. When bride got home she realized what happened and called back. Of course someone said that yes it had been seen and retrieved but no one could find it. Then someone found the empty platter shove down in a trash can.

kalonsuszko avatar
Kalon Suszko
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Many years ago had an incident of having a lunch thief in our small company. Would always steal from other people lunches. Could never catch the thief. I decided to put together a nice luxurious sandwich together one day just for the thief. Had the ham and cheese with tomato's and lettuce visibly seen, but in the middle spread some of my dogs s**t in the middle of it instead of using mayonnaise. Yea was a waste of a great sandwich, but can only imagine that persons first and second bite! Oh, used a lot of fresh garlic and onions to help cover the s**t smell. We never had any food stolen after that. :)

kalonsuszko avatar
Kalon Suszko
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Worked at a place where this guy loved to steal my girlfriends cans of tuna all the time. So we bought cans of cat food and exchanged the labels for tuna fish labels. That stopped the thefts. :)

lorilathrom avatar
Lori Lathrom
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Have the boss send out a message that the perp has been identified and if they replace what was stolen, no further action will be taken.

zuzubeard avatar
ZuZu Beard
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We had a patient wander in to the lounge and helped herself to the doctors birthday cake. Cut the top half off the remaining cake.

andersmiemietz avatar
AndersM
Community Member
1 year ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

What is SO? So tired of these american shorting every damn word.

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#11

My Coworker Put Straight Printer Ink In One Of My Gloves At Work. This Will Take A Week Or Two Minimum To Come Off

My Coworker Put Straight Printer Ink In One Of My Gloves At Work. This Will Take A Week Or Two Minimum To Come Off

xamlax Report

#12

Apparently Someone Has Been Munching My Donuts And It Was Supposed To Be For My Kids After Work

Apparently Someone Has Been Munching My Donuts And It Was Supposed To Be For My Kids After Work

8slipknot8 Report

#13

Came Back To Work So See This Prominently Displayed In A Coworker’s Cube

Came Back To Work So See This Prominently Displayed In A Coworker’s Cube

SchuylarTheCat Report

#14

Coworkers Not Cleaning Their Hands Before Using The Oven Mitts

Coworkers Not Cleaning Their Hands Before Using The Oven Mitts

PandaSushi06 Report

#15

This Is How My Coworker Avoids Taking Out His Garbage

This Is How My Coworker Avoids Taking Out His Garbage

kopo27 Report

#16

I Won A $5 Bet Against My Coworker. I Came Into The Work This Morning To Find This On My Desk. Thanks, Brad

I Won A $5 Bet Against My Coworker. I Came Into The Work This Morning To Find This On My Desk. Thanks, Brad

reddit.com Report

#17

My Colleague Drove With Me In My Company Vehicle. She Left This Piece Of Gum On The Door

My Colleague Drove With Me In My Company Vehicle. She Left This Piece Of Gum On The Door

OriginalAndre Report

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Scout Finch
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Tell her she left something in the car or return it by smashing it in the middle of her forehead, but then you'd have to find a way to extract it.

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#18

Coworker Didn't Know How To Take A Screenshot And Decided To Photocopy The Phone

Coworker Didn't Know How To Take A Screenshot And Decided To Photocopy The Phone

Nyroc12 Report

#19

My Colleague's Desktop

My Colleague's Desktop

rainbowstas Report

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Eva Bryson
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And then they complain to the IT staff about how slow their computer is.

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#20

My Coworker Never Shuts Sharpies All The Way And Wonders Why They Dry Out

My Coworker Never Shuts Sharpies All The Way And Wonders Why They Dry Out

VermicelliNo2422 Report

#22

So Remember My Coworker's Coffee Mug From A Few Weeks Back. Here's The Keyboard

So Remember My Coworker's Coffee Mug From A Few Weeks Back. Here's The Keyboard

Impudicity2001 Report

#23

My Coworker Decided To Put Two Kinds Of Candies Together

My Coworker Decided To Put Two Kinds Of Candies Together

AristonD Report

#24

Coworkers Keep Stealing My Stapler At Work. I've Made It Clear It's Not To Leave My Desk

Coworkers Keep Stealing My Stapler At Work. I've Made It Clear It's Not To Leave My Desk

frankgjnaan Report

#25

Coworker Hit My Car And Acted As If She Didn't Know Who Hit It

Coworker Hit My Car And Acted As If She Didn't Know Who Hit It

namesarentneeded Report

#26

I Think My Coworker Doesn't Like Sharing Anymore

I Think My Coworker Doesn't Like Sharing Anymore

eldelao Report

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Sleazy Weaver
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

maybe YOU'RE the a*****e coworker if you think you can just go through your coworker's snacks to the point where they have to write notes to keep you out.

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#28

While Looking For A File In My Coworker's Drawer, I Found This. Thing

While Looking For A File In My Coworker's Drawer, I Found This. Thing

marcish Report

#29

My New Coworker's Company Rental Car

My New Coworker's Company Rental Car

backpackingzack Report

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#30

Coworkers Replacing The Paper Towel Roll

Coworkers Replacing The Paper Towel Roll

baking_btch Report

#31

Found At The Communal Coffee Pot At My Corporate Office

Found At The Communal Coffee Pot At My Corporate Office

RUKittenMe99 Report

#32

This Is At My Work. She Does This Every Single Day

This Is At My Work. She Does This Every Single Day

unwittingconfusion Report

#33

Coworker Walks Around The Office Barefoot

Coworker Walks Around The Office Barefoot

Justletmedieplease_ Report

#35

My Coworker Eats His Pickles Like A Psychopath

My Coworker Eats His Pickles Like A Psychopath

SleepyBoiii90 Report

#36

A Coffee Pot That I Discovered In A Coworker's Office. Wonder What The Inside Is Like At This Point

A Coffee Pot That I Discovered In A Coworker's Office. Wonder What The Inside Is Like At This Point

straightskippy Report

#37

My Coworker Has Been Complaining About Lack Of Available Space On Her Work Computer

My Coworker Has Been Complaining About Lack Of Available Space On Her Work Computer

BadPunsIsHowEyeRoll Report

#38

The Side Of My Coworkers Desk Where They Leave Dead Skin And Nail Clippings

The Side Of My Coworkers Desk Where They Leave Dead Skin And Nail Clippings

pancakeking1012 Report

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#40

My Coworker Stocks The Coolers At My Work, And His Dandruff Is On Every Single Can

My Coworker Stocks The Coolers At My Work, And His Dandruff Is On Every Single Can

SlamdolfTheGay Report

#41

Someone Cut The Tops Off The Cinnamon Crunch Bagels At The Office

Someone Cut The Tops Off The Cinnamon Crunch Bagels At The Office

ssjvash Report

#42

When You Are Off For Christmas But Your Colleagues Have To “Work”

When You Are Off For Christmas But Your Colleagues Have To “Work”

toppertd Report

#43

My Colleagues Marked My Lost Safety Goggles With Permanent Marker

My Colleagues Marked My Lost Safety Goggles With Permanent Marker

BoilersuitBoris Report

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davesmith747474 avatar
Dave Smith
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just go over the writing with a dry wipe marker and then wipe with a paper towel. Comes straight off

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#44

When Your Coworker Tries To Take Two Pallets Down At A Time With A Forklift

When Your Coworker Tries To Take Two Pallets Down At A Time With A Forklift

whatdolknow Report

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Alex Boomhower
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Someone broke one box of beer. It smelled awful. I can't even begin to imagine how terrible it must smell here

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#45

A Coworker Tried To Sharpen My Good Kitchen Knifes With An Angle Grinder

A Coworker Tried To Sharpen My Good Kitchen Knifes With An Angle Grinder

gustavotherecliner Report

#46

My Coworker Made Sour Cream And Onion Pringles Cake. Oh God Why

My Coworker Made Sour Cream And Onion Pringles Cake. Oh God Why

auruleful Report

#47

The Interior Of A Coworker's Truck. Just The Tip Of The Iceberg With This Gentleman

The Interior Of A Coworker's Truck. Just The Tip Of The Iceberg With This Gentleman

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#49

My Coworker Needs Her Office Grocery Privileges Taken Away

My Coworker Needs Her Office Grocery Privileges Taken Away

tbreeze21 Report

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#50

The Way My Coworker Eats Sushi

The Way My Coworker Eats Sushi

remichelle Report

Note: this post originally had 113 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.