As Kiwis prepare to log off work for Christmas a new study reveals our most annoying colleagues.
Over the festive season people will be looking forward to a break from dominators, untidy people, megaphones, lingerers and intruders.
These are the most annoying types of people at work according to a newly released survey from Colmar Brunton.
Dominators - those people who talk over others - were rated as the most annoying workmates, included in the top three of 36% of those surveyed. Women (42%) and those in the 30-49 year age group (46%) most disliked being talked over.
Colmar Brunton account manager Jessica Balbas said the types of people identified reflect a number or traits common to offices and other workplaces.
"Every workplace has these types of people, but while we are quick to recognise faults and annoying habits among our workmates, we may be lacking a little bit of self awareness or honesty about our own behaviours."
Rounding off the Top 5 of the most annoying types are those who leave their desk or common areas untidy (26%), megaphones (loud talkers who have exaggerated conversations), people who hang around and talk even though you have work to do, and intruders (people who butt into conversations).
Others who get up the noses of fellow workers include the black hole (someone who doesn't respond to emails), the photocopier bandit (someone who leaves the photocopier jammed and the wanderer (who wanders around aimlessly).
But when it came to looking in the mirror, the greatest number described themselves as pen clickers (20%). A total of 14% identified themselves as backseat workers (someone who answers questions intended for someone else), 12% said they are untidy (slightly more men than women) or lingerers, and just 10% 'fessed up to being intruders.
However just 5% admitted to fitting the dominator persona, 4% described themselves as megaphones and a mere 3% said they leave the photocopier jammed.
"Everybody will be able to relate to these types of people in the workplace but the test is whether they take an honest look at themselves. Then, whether they can change their own behaviour when they return to work in the New Year for the good of their fellow workers," Ms Balbas said.
*A representative sample of 1000 New Zealanders was surveyed and the survey has a maximum margin of error of + or - 3.1%.
