If you know anyone in your office who consistently delivers drama, you're not alone: A new survey released by CareerBuilder says that 77 percent of employees witness some form of childish or overly dramatic behavior in their work place.
There's no excuse for whining or throwing a tantrum, but seriously—pulling a prank? Did someone live a little too vicariously through Jim and Dwight on The Office?
And if you think that you're the only one who's noticed the office drama queen, think again. Rosemary Haefner, chief human resources officer of CareerBuilder, said "Some degree of what we may consider adolescent' conduct can be harmless, enabling employees to let off some steam and even promote a sense of camaraderie in the office. But there's a fine line between innocent fun and inappropriate behavior. Actions like spreading rumors, tattling,' and forming cliques to exclude others can be perceived as mean-spirited, bullying and even harassment."
Negative Attitude: A majority of employers (62 percent) say they are less likely to promote employees who have a negative or pessimistic attitude (whining, pouting, etc.). Vulgar language: More than half of employers (51 percent) consider vulgar language an indication that an employee is not ready for promotion. Gossip: Nearly half of employers (44 percent) say they would think twice before moving an employee who participates in office gossip up the ranks. Sloppiness: Employees who do not clean up after themselves can hurt their chances for a promotion in the eyes of 36 percent of employers.
With stats like that, you definitely might want to think twice before grabbing your work bestie for a bathroom gossip session or sticking your cubemate's stapler in a Jell-O mold.