Organisations have begun to mandate a return to in-office work, a dissatisfying development for certain employees who relish their time apart from colleagues and their (often annoying) quirks.

A recent British survey conducted by printing company Digital ID among 3,500 participants has listed some of the bad habits that co-workers do to annoy others.

As it turns out, a large number of respondents get annoyed when their colleagues talk to them in detail about their fitness routine, which particularly gets on the nerves of those who have not asked to hear about it. This comes in at no. 3 on the list.

Even more unbearable is when fellow employees film TikTok videos during office hours, or vape in an open workspace. Ranking first and second place on the list, these grievances replace more conventional workplace grievances such as cooking fish in the office microwave, scheduling Friday-afternoon meetings, or sending overlong emails.

“While these new-age ‘icks’ in the workplace are relatively harmless and often add character to the office, they also highlight the diverse lifestyles and preferences that exist today,” said Digital ID, as quoted by the Daily Mail.

“Navigating these requires a balance between tolerance, understanding, and setting clear boundaries to ensure a harmonious and productive work environment.”

So, how do you tell your colleague that their e-cigarette habit causes you suffering, or that you’re uncomfortable with the idea of potentially appearing in the next dance challenge they plan to film?

Communication is key: oftentimes, just taking your colleague aside and explaining that their idiosyncrasies are hindering your concentration and wellbeing can be enough to curb their behaviour. Remember, some of them might not be even aware they’re being an annoyance.

You can always use an important call or meeting as an excuse to leave the room if that fitness freak launches into a diatribe, or if you see your colleague taking out their smartphone to film a TikTok.

And if all else fails, there’s no shame in talking to a supervisor. After all, when it comes to your workplace productivity and sanity, snitches don’t always get stitches!