What Your Employees Say Behind Your Back

You know those team-building events you are so fond of? Turns out your workers probably don't feel the same.

According to a recent survey from Citrix of more than 1,000 American office workers, nearly 75% said they have at least one company event they secretly dislike. Thirty-four percent said they most dislike office costume contests, followed by 31% who said they dislike team-building activities. Female workers especially despise staff photos (31%) and male workers have the most disdain for office baby showers (42%).

And while teamwork may be the goal, more than half of respondents said they work with a “know-it-all” and another 44% said they work with a “whiner.” Fifty-one percent said a “constant complainer” would be the most annoying type of person to sit beside each day.

More and more people are becoming creative at avoiding office stressors, including their bosses, the survey found. Respondents said the worst type of boss is one who steals their ideas, followed by a boss that knows it all (33%). Thirty percent said they actually schedule time off around their boss’ vacations, in order to maximize the time they will spend apart. What’s more, this is being done by executive and manager-level workers at a rate of 39%, compared to only 27% of mid-and junior-level workers.

Many workers would also like the chance to work from home, although the majority (64%) has not had the opportunity. Respondents said they would give up lunch breaks (32 %), alcohol (25%) and coffee (20%) in order to work from home just one day a week.

Those who do work from home said they wear jeans and t-shirts while on the job (49%), while 25% said they work in their pajamas. And 7% said they work in nothing at all.

Finally, hang onto these excuses, which respondents said were among the more creative reasons they called out of work:

• “My bicycle ran out of gas”
• “Gas is too expensive”
• “I’m dieting”
• “I drank too much Sunkist and was too tired to come in”
• “I’m having toenail issues”
• “My numerologist told me not to come in”
• “It’s Elvis’ birthday”
• “Dog sprayed by a skunk”
• “All my clothes are in the washer right now, I have nothing to wear”
• “I had to see where my gardener was really planting everything that I wanted and paid for”
• “Stumbled on the love of my life”