Top turnoffs in the workplace
Tuesday, March 15, 2022
Certain vices that can corrupt the workplace which affects employees.

Although the workplace is meant to be favourable and a healthy place to be, sometimes it turns out to be the opposite. There are certain vices that can corrupt it and if not rooted out, some employees may end up affected, become unhappy or even quit work.

A number of factors can turn off employees and some of these include;

Iryn Kirabo, a businesswoman and media personality notes that one of the ill behaviours that intimidate workers is an arrogant boss or co-workers.

She says that arrogant colleagues always show that they are better and their ideas and beliefs matter more than others’.

Such people in most cases put others down, put themselves first and they brag a lot, and it isn’t comfortable befriending them.

"It’s very awkward to work with people who seek adoration and attention, everything is about them. They love competition, so you can imagine how they can teach you something new yet they don’t want you to know better than them,” she says.

Kirabo carries on that having an arrogant boss makes the workplace boring because they tend to challenge everything, so that they may seem right in front of others, and worst of all, talk over others because they feel that they have a right to do so. They assume that what they have to say makes more sense than others.

She also explains that disclosing people’s personal issues is also a turnoff. Some people may open up to the top managers about their secrets, either a health problem or divorce and other issues, expecting its shared in a safe place, however to their surprise, hear rumours from fellow workers about their personal issues.

Kirabo states that there is nothing as discouraging as trusting someone with your secret but only to disappoint you when they can’t keep it to themselves.

She further notes that another intolerance is theft; some employees have a habit of checking their colleagues’ bags, desks and stealing anything from money, chargers, phones, pens to other items, while they are away for lunch or if no one is watching them.

"When the workplace turns into a theft area, work ceases to be fun,” she adds.

Jean Pierre Gahigi, a communications specialist stresses that another habit that disgusts workers is flirting; throwing sexual comments that are uncalled for, especially when it becomes monotonous, can be disturbing.

He carries on that there is no harm in giving compliments, but when someone switches to flirting, they have crossed the boundaries and this requires to be reported to the top management. 

Gahigi adds that when employees are segregated because of their appearance, gender, education qualifications, religion or any other difference, it’s obvious that their feelings will get hurt.

"Another character defect is taking credit for others’ work. Take an example, if you worked on a task as a group, but one person informs the boss that it was their sole efforts that enabled others to win, it is so lame and unprofessional. Everyone should take credit for only that, which they have worked for,” he states.

The communications specialist highlights that another ill habit is managers, employers, or employees playing favourites. This is giving someone or a group special treatment at the expense of someone else. 

He says that it is disheartening when managers offer promotions to employees who don’t deserve them, or give extra attention, offer extra privileges, or additional opportunities even when it seems inappropriate.