8 types of annoying colleagues in Singapore (Part 1)

By Adrian Tan

There is a saying that you choose your friends but not your family. So where do colleagues fit in? We spend more time with our colleagues than we do with our friends or family yet we can’t choose who they are.

No one likes being manipulated, backstabbed, demeaned, terrorised or made to feel insufficient, so what happens when you have to deal with the office jerk day in day out?

The truth is there is no escaping the people you spend 40 hours a week with. If you are seeing any these annoying colleagues, it may be time to look for somewhere better:

Angkat Bola

This is a Malay term meaning to curry favour or be sycophantic. A literal translation would mean to "carry balls". This person would always be revolving around the boss or manager, constantly hurling flatteries in order to impress and to get into one’s good books.

I-Want-To-Resign Queen

There’s always one, that one person who never finds anything to be happy about and always lamenting about resigning (but never leaves). The Universe conspires against them and if it’s not about the choice of new coffee that is making their day miserable, it is about no one understanding how much they contribute. They are constantly in crisis mode and every little issue becomes a huge problem.

The Journalist Gossiper

This person knows everything and wants to share it. These people create conflict and suspicion they discuss everything behind closed doors, to give the impression they are part of everything. Typically their stories and lively personality make them fun to be around - but beware have you noticed they also take too much interest in your life?

The Vacationer

You are constantly surprised why this person never becomes a scriptwriter instead with the constant flow of fresh and original reasons to be taking urgent leave. From losing his keys to his cat is stuck on a tree, his absence also means someone has to cover up. If you can relate to this, that person probably is you.

To be continued…

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