For some office workers, a day in the workplace can resemble a teen movie. Apart from dealing with authority figures, there’s the stress of dealing with deadlines and co-workers who seem to dislike you. But how can you tell if you’re being secretly hated in the office?
According to national workplace consultant Lynn Taylor (via WiseStep), anybody who’s had a job knows what it feels like to work with a hater, but some won’t blatantly show their dislike of you.
“Of course it’s impossible to be liked by everyone in the office,” said Taylor. “Most co-workers won’t overtly show their disdain for you so as not to cause trouble or jeopardize their own careers.”
It’s important to know if you’re being targeted in the office before the office bully can destroy your career. Here are the signs to look out for to know if a co-worker hates you.
He avoids you
A co-worker who constantly avoids being in the same vicinity as you is giving off signals that he hates you. If he makes it a point not to be in the same elevator as you, waits for you to leave the pantry before he goes in, or if he avoids being near you during meetings or company events, then it’s safe to say that that person is avoiding you.
He stops talking or his facial expression changes when you’re around
Everyone knows how this goes: you see your co-worker laughing and joking with the others, but the moment he sees you, he gets quiet and has a serious or annoyed look on his face. It’s clear that this person doesn’t like to see you around at all.
He’s passive-aggressive towards you
Passive-aggressive behavior includes intentionally leaving you out of office functions or neglecting to inform you about important meetings or memos. Your co-worker may also give off negative body language, such as crossing his arms, rolling his eyes, or sighing heavily when you’re around. He may also do the opposite of what you request him to do, such as turning the thermostat down when you politely ask him to turn it up a notch.
He’s purposely aggressive towards you
He “accidentally” slams into you when you pass him by the hallway. He also drops your papers forcefully onto your desk or plays mean pranks on you. He threatens you with bodily harm and seems to have a preoccupation with violence.
He spreads rumors about you
This can be anything from making up stories about you to launching an overt campaign to oust you out of your job.
If your co-worker exhibits two or more of these behaviors, then it’s clear that he has a hatred of you. Approach your co-worker and see if you can come to terms. If you’re concerned for your safety or your life, get your supervisor and human resources involved to deal with the situation.
For more, check out Jobs & Hire’s report on the types of bosses to avoid.
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