Are You a Bad Employee?

Unprofessional behavior at work can damage your reputation and harm your future career options. Self-assessment is difficult, however, and the signs of a bad employee are often obvious to everyone except the person in question. To determine whether or not you're a problem worker, compare your behavior to the following indicators.

You're Always Late

Regular tardiness is a key indicator of a bad employee. Constantly being late demonstrates a disregard for your colleagues' time, whether or not you intend it that way. Consider your behavior. Do you arrive late to work more than once per week? Do you frequently make other people wait to start meetings? Have you had to call or text clients to make excuses for a late arrival? Do you miss deadlines more than once per month? A pattern of lateness tells your contacts that they can't rely on you, which undermines the professional relationship.

You're Not a Team Player

Cooperation and collaboration are essential in all businesses, and a single bad apple can sabotage the efforts of the group. If you struggle to get along with most people in the office, the problem might not be them — you might simply be a bad employee. Signs that you're not a team player include lower productivity levels than your colleagues', the failure to contribute to group discussions and the refusal to take on tasks that fall out of your regular responsibilities. If you can't remember any of these behaviors, think back. Do you frequently complain about assignments or utter the phrase, "It's not my job"? If so, you might be the team's weak link.

No One Likes You

In some cases, it's possible to perform exceptionally well, contribute to the group and still be a bad employee. Usually, the problem lies with poor interpersonal skills. Think about how you treat your co-workers. If you constantly find fault, point out their mistakes or try to one-up them, you might be causing strife. Are you left out of group lunches and happy hours? Do others clam up when you walk into a room? Do you get the feeling that colleagues dislike you? If you answer yes, you may be unconsciously alienating your colleagues. Don't make the mistake of thinking that high performance can excuse all other sins — after all, if everyone in the office refuses to work with you, your tenure with the company can only go so far.

You're Inappropriate

Bad behavior can be difficult to define in the workplace. Some behaviors, such as stealing or lying to clients, are obviously wrong. Others come right up to the line, but they are no less inappropriate. Swearing, insulting colleagues and spreading nasty gossip can give you a bad reputation with supervisors and colleagues. The same goes for forcing your political beliefs and disparaging other religious or ethnic groups. Be wary of airing personal drama in the office — it's never a good idea to talk loudly about sordid family problems or a wild night out. If you exhibit this type of unprofessional behavior on a regular basis, it might indicate that you're a bad employee.

If you discover that some of your workplace behaviors qualify you as a bad employee, don't panic. With immediate action, you can change your ways and build a stronger professional reputation.

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