Work Jerks: How To Cope with Difficult Bosses and Colleagues

Anyone who’s ever been employed has likely experienced the misfortune of having a bad boss or coworker. This guide by consultant and blogger Carnachan breaks down the “jerktypes” commonly encountered in the workplace, and how to identify them. Throughout each chapter, Carnachan shares profiles from different employees she’s coached in her decades of consulting, and what was helpful (or futile) in their case. She provides advice on everything from minor annoyances (the loud chewer) to truly toxic situations (sexual harassment). Rather than pointing fingers, Carnachan suggests it’s also an opportunity for exploring our own biases and invites the reader to complete a brief worksheet in each chapter to identify which harmful traits they might also exhibit that could be corrected. Finally, Carnachan tackles the difficulties that come from a pervasive toxic work culture where there’s no readily identifiable solution, and provides recommendations for how those can be addressed. Readers will easily relate to the dozens of profiles presented. Additionally, the recommendations are transferable to many different work environments.