Toxic Coworkers – 7 Types You’ve Definitely Met (And How to Handle Them)

We’ve all dealt with them—those toxic coworkers who make your workday harder without ever raising their voices. Some are loud and obvious. Others are polite, charming… and utterly exhausting. In this post, we unpack 7 types of toxic colleagues you’ve likely encountered—and how naming the pattern helps you protect your peace.

We’ve all had that one colleague who just gets under your skin! But not all toxic people shout or dominate. Some smile sweetly while quietly messing with your sanity.
But as we know, knowledge is power—once you can name them, they lose their hold on your headspace.

So here are 7 types of toxic colleagues you’ve probably met…

1. The Subtle Blamer

They don’t yell or criticise outright. But somehow… it’s never their fault.
Their need to protect their self-image overrides their ability to reflect—and the team suffers in silence. 

2. The Scatterbrain

Fun, creative, full of ideas—but deadlines? Not their thing.
They flit from one thing to another, never quite finishing.
Great in a brainstorming session, but frustrating when you need follow-through.

3. The Kiss-Up / Kick-Down

The boss thinks they’re a star.
But behind closed doors, they’re snide, sarcastic, and often belittling.
They know how to perform when it matters—and how to get away with bad behaviour when it doesn’t.

4. The Micromanager

Everything is urgent. Everything is important. And it all must be done their way.
They invade your time, your inbox, and your workflow—leaving you overworked and underproductive.
If your boss is a micromanager, chances are you work the hardest and get the least done.

5. The Meeting Hijacker

You’re giving a quick update… suddenly it’s a TED Talk.
They dominate every discussion, derail agendas, and drain the energy from collaboration.
They don’t want a meeting—they want an audience.

6. The Free Rider

Excellent at taking credit, terrible at taking accountability.
They volunteer for low-effort, high-visibility tasks—and disappear when real work begins.
They thrive in group projects where no one can tell who did what.

7. The Emotional Landmine

One word, one look—and boom. Offended.
You’re constantly walking on eggshells around their moods.
They don’t need a reason. They need regulation.

Spotting these patterns is step ONE. And not taking them personally is step TWO. 

Toxic colleagues are a pain—but knowledge is power. Which type have you faced recently? Got a story or survival strategy? Share it in the comments—we’re all in this together.

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