Whether it’s nail biting or skipping breakfast, most people are aware of their bad habits in their personal lives. Bad habits in the workplace, however, may be less obvious, yet more troublesome because some bad habits, when left unchecked for too long, can cost an employee their profession. Just like finding a great job takes finesse, so too does keeping one. Great employees possess more than the ability to do good work. They know how to collaborate and work with others to create a healthy corporate culture within the office.

Click on next slide to see which seven horrible habits productive employees should avoid.

1. Personal online activities. This is one of the most common bad habits employees have. If an employee is checking tweets or status updates more than once an hour, it’s probably a social media addiction and your boss and colleagues are paying attention. Employers are able to track what websites their employees visit so it’s best to save social media and other personal online activities for after work hours.

2. Bad body language. Eye rolling, spacing out, grunting, and sighing when being addressed are just some of the common body cues that can negatively impact interactions at the office. Even if someone is mildly disappointed with the change in direction on a project or is not excited about a task, it’s imperative to learn to remain calm. Also, being withdrawn and disengaged may let bosses and colleagues think that the employee is not interested in holding onto the job.

3. Being a lone wolf. Being able to work independently is a great skill to have, but wanting to work alone all the time is not. Employers will see a loner as someone not capable of working with a team player and hesitate to bring them into new projects that involve teamwork. Also, employees who stick to themselves show that they may not do well in leadership positions.

4. Tardiness. If a person is constantly arriving to work late or taking long breaks, it displays an attitude of complacency and carelessness. This applies to projects being completed on time too. Even if some people work best under pressure, doing things last minute is a bad habit that can lead to termination, especially if that tardiness causes problems with other employees completing their work.

5. Lying. Everyone stretches the truth once in a while, but if it’s done too often, people will start to notice. Eventually, that person becomes unreliable and will not be trusted with important information or projects, keeping them from advancing within the organisation.

6. Bad manners. Whether interacting with someone over email or in person, it’s important to always say please and thank you. It’s also important not to use foul or inappropriate language or cut people off mid-sentence. People with bad manners often find themselves alone because no one wants to work with them. Employers will find it easy to let go of an employee who isn’t well-liked in the team.

7. Having temper tantrums. It’s normal to occasionally get frustrated at work, but it crosses a line if it includes yelling, slamming doors, or snapping at colleagues and clients. One incident is all it takes to get a reputation as an angry person. Once a person has this label, it’s very hard to remove and employers will take this into consideration when promoting employees.

This is just a short list of some of the more common bad habits employees have that can sour a workplace environment. It’s important for employees, especially when new on the job, to reflect and take into account any bad habits they might have. It may even be helpful to ask family and friends for feedback on bad habits that may otherwise go unnoticed. Avoiding these seven horrible habits and the many others will help ensure enduring job satisfaction and professional success long into the future.

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7 Horrible habits productive employees should avoid

Career Advice Career counselling, advice and guidance
Select article category

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Productivity Tips
Workplace English
Industry Stories
Job Search in Hong Kong
HR Career Success
How to Get Promoted
Career Path Planning
Career Coaching & Guidance
Advice Columnist