What percentage of people at your work do you dislike?

[secondcor521]

I suspect I'm getting cranky / curmudgeonly in my old age, and I am curious how bad I am, or if I am normal, or what.

Voting instructions:  Think about the 10 people you work with most - teammates, managers, regular clients or customers.  Now count how many of those 10 people you definitely dislike, and vote accordingly.  As a standard, let's say there is a meeting being broadcast to two locations at your work site, and you find out a person is going to be at one location, and that fact influences your decision to go to the other location.

Thanks in advance for your help.

[David Lurie]

I said 90%. Just being honest.

[Primm]

I work in a department with about 200 staff. I'd say out of those there are 2 that I dislike. On a bad day. And I honestly can't say I'd actively avoid them if given the choice of two locations as in your example.

I didn't vote because I don't dislike 10% of the staff I work with. Some I tolerate rather than engaging in conversation, but they are still the minority.

I work 40 hours a week. That leaves 148 non-work hours. Not worth my getting cranky about.

[FOBStash]

I put 10%. I really enjoy people I work with. Great company culture -- most are hella smart designers, engineers or prod managers but still very nice and collaborative without the ego. There are those one or two bad apples of course but i don't let that affect me. Having f you money really changed my perspective about work and things that bothered me just 3 years ago like politics or mind games aren't a big deal now. I try to enjoy what i do day by day and if things change and i don't like it, I can always look for something  else.

My prior work was so toxic I hated almost everyone. Honestly I think they are nice people but the culture and constant layoffs brought the worst in everyone.

[Zikoris]

50% Like, 30% Dislike, 20% Indifferent. My boyfriend is also at about 30% Dislike for his coworkers.

But even among the ones I like, I have no desire for any sort of actual friendship/relationship outside of work. I definitely don't go for lunch with them or go places after work or anything. I have nothing in common with them.

[Cressida]

It's probably around 20% at my current job, which is better than my last one where it was about 60% at least. Worst offenders: (1) the guy who lets out loud belches a dozen times a day, (2) the manager who likes to reject work for being off by a penny (not making this up), and (3) the guy who crunches loudly and constantly on apples and crackers and wants us to buy chocolates to support his daughter's "American Heritage Girl" troop because the Girl Scouts don't talk about god enough.

My previous-to-previous job was awesome. I really liked everyone there. Oh well.

[maisee]

I only work with 10 other people, 3 of whom are just a pain to work with/for. So, 30%. The other 7 completely make up for it, though.

At my PT side gig, I only work with one other person (my boss) and he's fun to be around. Zero% there.

[Zikoris]

I work in a large office and an honestly indifferent to the vast majority of them outside of my direct coworkers.

[mak1277]

I put 0% because I consider indifference to be different than dislike.  I don't voluntarily interact with anyone from my work (only what is required by my job).  But I can't say I dislike them outright.

[iris lily]

I didn't vote because it's more like .5% to 2%. I can think of one person I don't like and could probably come up with more if I dwelt on that topic.

 I can think of a couple of someones I REALLY disliked, but they have retired and one of them forcibly.

I am often annoyed by  my boss, but I think that is commonplace and speaks more to our relationship than to who she is. And yesterday, because she finally gave me information I needed to go forward with a project, she is in my good graces. :)

[samburger]

I said 10% dislike, and for about half of them, it's a passionate dislike. I actively enjoy the company of probably 70, 80% of the people I work with--I'm early in my career (I'm 25), so I like to think I'm still fresh and buoyant and optimistic.

[boy_bye]

i like almost all the people i work with as people ... but there are fewer that i actually enjoy working with. (some of them are not very conscientious and it pisses me off.)

[Catbert]

When I was young and starting out I liked most of the people I worked with.  By the time I retired I could tolerate only about half of them (and liked even fewer).  That was one of the major reasons I retired.

You can draw your own conclusions about which is more likely a/ the workforce in general got stupider over 30 years or b/I got crankier after 30 years of dealing with stupid people.

[frugalnacho]

I don't dislike anyone at work.  A couple of them can be annoying at times, but I don't dislike them.

[GuitarStv]

I work in a company of about 4000.  I like 3.

[Eric]

12.5%  (1 of 8)

[Numbers Man]

"Dislike" is a pretty strong emotion. I would say that I probably wouldn't invite anyone over for beers or dinner.

[Lian]

More like 5% for me. I work in an office with about 20 people (a small outpost of a big megacorp).  I like and enjoy most of them, am neutral to a couple, and absolutely loathe one person.  Unfortunately I have to work closely with her. So sick of always watching for the knife in my back – she sees me as competition that must be crushed. I have to keep reminding myself that this is only temporary (for a few years) til I’m FI, because it really takes only one bad co-worker to ruin an otherwise good situation.

[Schaefer Light]

To me, the better question is "what percentage of your work do you dislike?"

[deborah]

Not dislike. Frustrating, uncooperative, didn't do what they said they would do, annoying... but not dislike.

[Artemis67]

I'm self-employed, and over the past three years have thinned out my client list as I downshift toward eventual retirement. I've taken on a couple of new clients, but let go of anyone who needs lots of hand-holding, acts like a dick, or whose effort:profit ratio is too low.

I like what I do, and I like it even more ever since I stopped working with the clients I didn't like. There are still a couple of them who can be annoying on occasion, but not enough to dislike them. They give me enough steady business to forgive their infrequent bouts of fuckery. For now, at any rate.

At the same time, I haven't gone so far as to make friends with even my favorite clients. I don't want to complicate a perfectly agreeable business relationship by bringing my personal life into it. Friends are allowed to have certain expectations that clients cannot, and vice-versa; mixing the two just seems like a really bad idea.

[nottoolatetostart]

I like nearly every one at work as acquaintances. I would only have a few over to my house for a dinner - but have never done that.

[Albert]

Somewhere between 10 and 20%, but it's not a very strong dislike. I can still have a normal professional relationships with them if needed. I also have few friends I associate with outside working hours to one extent or another.

[Datastache]

I voted 30%. I might have erred a little on the high side, but that 30% comprises individuals who annoy me with their mannerisms, whose approach to the work itself is frustrating, who treat me poorly, or any number of other things that could lead to my "disliking" them. I wouldn't say I hate any of them or even bear any real ill will - I just would inwardly prefer that they either behaved differently or were not part of my life.

[secondcor521]

I appreciate the distinction people have made between disliking a person, er, personally, vs. disliking or being annoyed at someone as a co-worker.

I am currently at 20%.  I think I was at 10% a few years ago.  Part of the increase probably is me just getting older and more decisive about who I like and who I don't, part of it is probably my personality changing a little bit to be more willing to be more active in my preferences - if I didn't like a person before, I would make an effort to like them.  Now I just say to myself, "nothing personal, not everyone gets along, so I'm going to move along".  (I still treat people respectfully as much as I can.)  I'm also more in management lately, so I see more of, and have to deal more with, the interpersonal stuff that goes on, and I don't like the people that instigate problems on a regular basis because they're a pain to deal with.

In the case of my 2 disliked people, I actually like one of them as a person, and the other one I am neutral about as a person.  But I don't respect them as co-workers, because they are not competent and I think they are less than honest in their dealings with me and others.  The one I like better as a person also has some annoying personal habits.

Anyhow, y'all have helped me feel better that I'm in the ballpark of normal.

A followup question for those of you who are retired:  Have you been able to arrange your life to avoid more the people you dislike - i.e., only associate with those that you like -- or do you find that it's more a constant that there will always just be that percentage of people that you won't like?  I would think you would have more choice, and I'm looking forward to that a little when I retire, but if that's not the case I'd like to know ahead of time.

Thanks!!

[RetiredAt63]

Umm, interesting question.  With more free time I am more involved in community activities and so see more people in my immediate neighbourhood. And the answer is - I am not associating a lot with anyone I dislike!  Having the freedom to totally choose what I do and don't do means I don't have to spend a lot of time with anyone who really irritates me.  And those who are mildly irritating, well when the activity is over they go their way and I go mine.  Mind you, when I worked I liked almost all of my colleagues and students, I was lucky in my associates.

A followup question for those of you who are retired:  Have you been able to arrange your life to avoid more the people you dislike - i.e., only associate with those that you like -- or do you find that it's more a constant that there will always just be that percentage of people that you won't like?  I would think you would have more choice, and I'm looking forward to that a little when I retire, but if that's not the case I'd like to know ahead of time.

Thanks!!

[SwordGuy]

One out of 2500.   And I don't have to work with him anymore. :)

[Catbert]

A followup question for those of you who are retired:  Have you been able to arrange your life to avoid more the people you dislike - i.e., only associate with those that you like -- or do you find that it's more a constant that there will always just be that percentage of people that you won't like?  I would think you would have more choice, and I'm looking forward to that a little when I retire, but if that's not the case I'd like to know ahead of time.

Thanks!!

I think this depends, in part, on what you do in retirement.  The more you're involved in group things the more you have to deal with whomever else is part of the group.  However, you're unlikely to devote 40 hours a week to any one group so it won't get to you as much.  If you do more individual things it's easier to avoid people you dislike.

[YK-Phil]

Work is the least of my worries. It was not always like this. With the years, I acquired a teflon skin. Nothing bothers me anymore. And as long as I don't have to dig trenches for a living, life is good.

[Rural]

Work is the least of my worries. It was not always like this. With the years, I acquired a teflon skin. Nothing bothers me anymore. And as long as I don't have to dig trenches for a living, life is good.

Digging trenches where you work would be less pleasant by far than most trench-digging jobs. :-)

[gt7152b]

I think dislike is a strong word but there are a few people that I wish had a more positive attitude. Seems like I just see them moping around all the time and it affects my mood. Then there are a few that annoy the crap out of me. I think it's mainly a by product of the free coffee at work. Conversations seem to take about 10 times longer with a caffeine addict. In the long run I get along with everyone and they make it a little easier to come into work. Some days I don't want to have to deal with anyone but that's just my own personal issue.

[YK-Phil]

Work is the least of my worries. It was not always like this. With the years, I acquired a teflon skin. Nothing bothers me anymore. And as long as I don't have to dig trenches for a living, life is good.

Digging trenches where you work would be less pleasant by far than most trench-digging jobs. :-)

LOL On the flipside, it is a breeze to clean up frozen dog poo in the backyard.

[Jon_Snow]

I actually spent more than a few years digging trenches. For real. :(

[RNwastash]

I don't really dislike people per say.  I dislike their lazy tendencies.  My work as a nurse gets very busy at times and if you have a lazy co-worker, the patients really do suffer.  I put 20%.

[Zikoris]

Work is the least of my worries. It was not always like this. With the years, I acquired a teflon skin. Nothing bothers me anymore. And as long as I don't have to dig trenches for a living, life is good.

I feel like that more these days. Work used to take up a lot of my mental space and sneak into my personal life. Now I keep everything separate, have no personal relationships with coworkers outside work, wipe work from my thoughts when I walk out the door, and focus all my mental energy on things that I care about. I find that as I've developed interests outside of work, it's become a smaller and smaller part of my life. I don't even talk about work with friends anymore because I find every other topic so much more interesting.

[Cassie]

When I first worked for the government 18 years ago I liked just about everyone.  People retired & new ones came & 15 years later when I retired I disliked 60%.   

[rocketpj]

I like all of my coworkers.  In fact, liking them has been what's kept me in a badly underpaid job for a few more years than I should - training is extremely difficult and replacing me would create serious challenges for everyone left behind. 

Not that we don't have some real challenges and even conflicts, but our immediate boss is very clear that all interactions happen within a context of respect and health. 

It's a great job that pays terribly.  It has given me the freedom to build a business on the side though, which is soon to become the main hustle.

[southern granny]

There aren't any that I dislike.  There are several that I have nothing in common with and would not have any type of relationship outside of work, but I don't dislike them.  I just thought of one woman that I do dislike who works for the some company, but at a different location so I rarely encounter her.  There was a point in the past where we worked in the same department and that is when I developed negative feelings for her.  My dislike for her got to the point that I requested a transfer because of it.  It turned out to be a good thing, because that whole department was closed down not too long after that.

[Calvawt]

Tough question.  Some people I like, but dislike their work ethic because they cause me extra work.  Some people I just don't like.

[livetogive]

This is a really fun question because it made me realize I don't hate the people I work with (minus one dishonest dude)  I just hate the role.

[firedup]

I work in a company of about 4000.  I like 3.

roflol

[Kansas Beachbum]

LOL, great question!  Depends on the day, but I'd say I just pretty much don't care that much about any of them vs. dislike them.  There are some I sincerely don't like, but for the most part I just don't care, or watch them with a bemused expression on my face wondering when / if they will ever really figure it out.  Ah, whatever...my last day there is in two weeks.

[steveo]

I really like my team at the moment. Management is great.

I still want to become FI though. 2 years or so ago my team was toxic.

[Gerard]

I like everyone I work with. Some of them piss me off occasionally, but it passes quickly. We're not palsy-walsy, but we do occasionally go berry picking together, or jam. It's the best academic work environment I've ever been in. Definitely one of the things that makes it easier to stay.

(Wow, that may be the first time I've ever typed "palsy-walsy". It was fun.)

[Greenroller]

I work in a company of about 4000.  I like 3.

LOL'd hard

[BaldingStoic]

The survey numbers need to be more granular.  For me its 98% like, 2% dislike.  And in my humble opinion, anyone with a dislike in excess of 10% needs some serious introspection.  While probably only one-ten individuals that I work with share my values, that doesn't cause me to dislike the other 90%. I value diversity and appreciate an honest difference of opinion. 

[devan 11]

  I voted 0%.  There is always one or so, though.  If there isn't one, you may be that one.  I should wonder how my co-workers would vote.

[Bob W]

Turns out to be tricky question.  I don't really dislike any of my coworkers.   The again I don't really like them enough to hang with out of work.   It seems it is difficult to find people that click.   Have some good friends and some decent friends but I haven't made any new friends in the past 5 years.   Hmmm?

[Dr. Doom]

Why isn't 110% an option?

Seriously though, I'm under 10%.  Dislike is a feeling that requires energy, and I don't want to use my energy that way.  Only 1 person falls into this category at my current employer.

On the other hand, dislike is also very different from like.  I only actively enjoy a few people, and don't hang around even them after work.  Lunch, sure.  After 5?  No way.

[Albert]

Let's ask then the opposite question: how many people at work do you like well enough to meet after work or during weekends? With how many would you keep contact for years after changing a job?

In my case maybe a dozen I'd meet for a beer after work once in a while and four I consider real friends and spend some of my free time with. Admittedly two of them were already friends from university and we just happened to end up in the same company.