CAREER’S CORNER: How To Identify When You’re The ‘Toxic’ Co-worker At Work

Loading player...
Phiona Martin - award-winning Organizational Psychologist, Career Coach talks about Signs of a toxic coworker

None of these though compare to the person who wreaks havoc on you and everyone around you. They spend their daily work lives doing things that never have a positive outcome and make you wish it was the end of the day when you just got there with your breakfast in tote. I am talking about the ever so present toxic co-worker. 

Face it: some of you out there are the textbook definition of this type of employee. You may not know it, or do and deny it, but there are key signs attributed to the behavior that earns you this unglamorous honor.

They create a space that’s either not fun to be around or is repeatedly doing things that brings the rest of your staff down in the process. 

Worst of all is that this person will claw their way to a promotion over you and you may not even know it. Ways that they do this range from manipulation to starting drama with others to even being a likable yet not suitable person for the job. 

And yes, this person can still be that frustrating even in a virtual setting that many of us remain in due to the coronavirus pandemic. The tricks they have up their sleeve go beyond the physical presence, it’s just up to you to figure out what their work style is.
30 Jan 2023 1PM English South Africa Business News · Investing

Other recent episodes

AGOA Extended: Certainty or Illusion?

The US has extended the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) to 2028, stabilising duty‑free access for African exporters. But is this really a win, or just temporary certainty? Oxford Economic’s Jervin Naidoo explains what the extension means for South Africa’s auto industry, Kenya’s textiles, and Africa’s trade outlook in…
24 Sep 1PM 19 min

Your Retirement, Your Rules: ETFSA’s Starter Pack Explained

Retirement planning doesn’t need to be intimidating. Suzan Ramotshabi breaks down the biggest barriers stopping South Africans from investing, including Black Tax and fear of making mistakes. She explains how the Starter Pack works, additional ETFSA solutions, and the one step listeners can take today to begin their retirement journey…
23 Sep 1PM 22 min

SARB Tightens: What the 25bps Hike Means for You

The SARB surprised markets with a unanimous vote to hike rates by 25bps, landing against rising inflation expectations and global volatility. Johann Els unpacks the policy mood shift, the 4.4% inflation print, rand vulnerability, and how this decision affects credit conditions, household budgets, and South Africa’s growth outlook heading into…
23 Sep 12PM 14 min

The State of SA Insurance: Climate, Claims & Consumer Strain

South Africa’s insurers are navigating a perfect storm: higher catastrophe losses, rising claims inflation, affordability strain, and a shifting risk landscape shaped by climate volatility and crime. Santam’s Partner Solutions CEO, Gugu Mtetwa, unpacks the sector’s resilience, the worsening underinsurance problem, consumer behaviour shifts, and how insurers are adapting to…
22 Sep 1PM 24 min

Measured Momentum in SA Banking: Earnings Up, Risks Rising

South Africa’s major banks delivered headline earnings growth of 9.3% to R82.3 billion, stronger ROE at 20.5%, and improved cost‑to‑income ratios — but beneath the numbers lies a fragile domestic recovery and renewed inflation pressure. PwC’s Rivaan Roopnarain breaks down the competitive dynamics across retail, business, corporate and payments ecosystems,…
22 Sep 1PM 14 min