Brits Blame Each Other For Causing Nightmare At Work

In an age of open plan offices, big work teams and high pressure environments, working closely and intensely with people inevitably puts even the strongest relationships under strain. In fact, in a survey conducted by Monster, Brits cited their own colleagues as the main cause of annoyance at work.

A Monster Meter poll recently asked, What irritates you most about your job? 2,226 respondents voted:

30% (650 votes) ñ My colleagues
25% (570) ñ The long hours culture
24% (550) ñ Red tape
11% (256) ñ My physical environment at work
10% (240) ñ Nothing really irritates me

Office politics are an inherent part of working life and spending long hours with colleagues can get on our nerves. Annoying mobile phone rings, the guy who never offers to make tea, the group that eats smelly food at lunch time or the tireless secretary who spreads unfounded gossip- when stressed and tired these factors are enough to make even the most placid personís blood pressure rise.

Even for those who do not work in an office, issues with colleagues can be serious and complex, such as failure to meet deadlines, a team member who never pulls their weight, or the one who steals glory for all your hard work. In Britain, 60% of us sit in open plan offices- double that of our European colleagues, according to research by Plantronics. Although open plan offices are great for networking and teams, many workers find big open floors distracting and that it causes stress in terms of noise levels and loss of privacy.

Spats between celebrities who work together have also been notoriously documented; bickering between actresses on the set of Desperate Housewives, the heated exchanges with X-Factorís Simon Cowell and Sharon Ozbourne and the temper tantrums between Noel and Liam Gallagher. The reality is that no matter where you work or whom you work for, there will always be people who do not get along.

ìFeeling irritated or angry with colleagues is one of the most common symptoms of stress,î explains Alan Towsend, COO for Monster UK & Ireland. ìItís important to keep things in perspective. Enjoy the challenges of your job but donít let it dominate your life. With so many Britains struggling to maintain a work-life balance, itís no wonder that when stress gets to us we blame each other. Better communication between management and staff is the key to improving work-life balance. If people feel that theyíre in control of their work, this can have both a dramatic and positive effect on their happiness and relationships with colleagues.î

Feel like throttling your colleagues? Take time out and follow Monsterís top tips:

To curb colleague conflict

Communicate ñ If something is bothering you, talking to someone may help you to see it differently. Discuss your problem with someone before itís blown out of proportion.

Be professional ñ Take practical steps to addressing the problem. Take time out to think over a problem logically and rationally. Donít be petty and unreasonable. Donít talk about people behind their back or stoop to their level.

Avoid unnecessary conflict ñ Try to find a solution where both parties can reach a positive outcome. Donít be too argumentative. Ask yourself if itís really worth the stress?

Relax and wind-down ñ Find a strategy that will help you to relax. Take up an activity to engage your interest outside of work, such as exercise or meditation.

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