Do you have a designated office Jerk? How to deal with them...

Do you work with a jerk? 

Office jerks can ruin moral and somebody NEEDS to speak up. Julie Jansen, author of “You Want Me to Work With Who?” says most toxic coworkers aren’t even aware that they’re the jerk. They’re often surprised, or even shocked, when someone makes them aware of their bad behavior. But few people step up to do that. In a survey of more than 900 people, including bosses, 75% admitted to complaining about the jerk to their coworkers but would not consider confronting the offender. Could YOU be the office jerk? The most common characteristics include rude, abrasive or inappropriate behavior, complaining, dramatic, lazy, loud, disruptive, and the worst offense of all - backstabbing.

If you’re ready to confront the office jerk, you’ll probably need some support. Most human resource departments have office jerk protocol to follow, but it’s best to start with your immediate supervisor. Discuss the bad behavior to determine whether it can be handled within the department. If you’re discouraged from reporting the problem, or expected to just deal with it, it may be time to move on to a friendlier environment.