Rude co-workers negatively affect your home life: study
If you just can’t seem to leave your work at the office, you might want to start trying to disconnect a little harder.
A new study has found those with rude co-workers often take the stress home, and that stress can take a toll on your personal life.
After surveying nearly 200 workers, researchers at Baylor University in Texas found many of them went home stressed and distracted after dealing with workplace incivility all day.
As a result, the workers' partners were left to pick up the slack when it came to domestic obligations like cleaning and cooking. This ripples into resentment on behalf of the partners, causing friction in their relationships.
The partner then carries this stress to their workplace, further fueling the cycle.
"This research underlines the importance of stopping incivility before it starts so that the ripple effect of incivility does not impact the employee's family," says study author Merideth Ferguson, assistant professor of management and entrepreneurship at the Baylor University Hankamer School of Business, in a news release.
[See also: Why your co-worker's lunch drives you crazy]
A toxic work environment could potentially "inflict further damage beyond the workplace . . . and cross over into the workplace of the partner," she adds.
There are many tips for dealing with annoying people at work, including maintaining a sense of humour.
Many workplaces also offer some form of employee assistance program that provides free counselling or stress management. Talk to your HR representative to see if your office has one you can use.
If things really get out of hand, it might be worth a conversation with your manager or human resources department.
It’s also worth taking the time to build positive relationships at work. Recently, another study found those who feel supported at the office tend to live longer on average than those who don’t.
So the next time your colleague invites you out for post-work drinks, go ahead and take them up on the offer. It’s better for your health than having a rocky relationship.
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