5 office pet peeves and how to resolve them

After your home, your workplace is where you spend the most time. You share it with colleagues, which often makes the environment enjoyable—but it can also bring its fair share of irritations. Some people like to work with background music, while others need complete silence. Everyone is different, yet certain frustrations seem to appear in almost every office. Here are five common workplace annoyances and how they can be easily resolved.

1. Office equipment that is not ready for use

We’ve all been there: you go to print a few pages in a pinch and get the dreaded message, 'Toner is empty!' That means opening the machine, hunting down a new cartridge in the supply room, and disposing of the old one properly. If you’re really unlucky, you’ll also discover a stack of jammed paper inside. Suddenly, a simple task takes ten extra minutes. And all because colleagues leave the printer in disarray. With shared office equipment like printers and shredders, responsibility often gets blurred—making it all too easy for everyone to ignore basic upkeep.

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2. Cluttered desks and offices that prevent productivity

A cluttered desk or office space can be frustrating, especially if you are a very tidy person! Not everyone has the same standard of cleanliness in an office setting. If your own papers are neatly tucked away in a letter tray or drawer unit, the contrast with the messy desk next to you is even stark. Implementing a clean desk policy can be a game-changer as it holds everyone in the office accountable. You can read more about how to keep an office clean here. 

3. Unproductive and disorganised meetings

Meetings are an important part of any organisation to keep ideas flowing and project timelines in check. However, when meetings are unproductive, too long or distracting, they can have the opposite effect. To keep meetings on track, it’s important to be organised going into the meeting. This includes having a clear purpose, a pre-shared agenda, timekeeping and the right tools like pens, notebooks, whiteboards or flipcharts. You can read more tips about planning an effective meeting here. 

4. An office that is too hot or too cold

In most offices, temperature can be an ongoing debate! One person is shivering, another is sweltering! Finding a happy medium is important for a comfortable environment. The HSA advises the ideal temperature to be between 18 and 23°C, with a minimum workplace temperature of 17.5°C. Of course, every person has individual preferences. What almost everyone appreciates, however, is the ability to open a window. This also improves the oxygen level in the room. Another solution to improve air quality is to use an air purifier. This filters pollutants like dust mites from the air. We all benefit from a healthier office space. When it’s too hot out, a fan can be appreciated in the offices, while on colder days, an electric heater can be useful. More tips and accessories can be found in our blog What is the ideal office temperature? 

5. Distracting noises in the office

An office can be a productive spot to get down to work, but naturally, with a room full of different personalities, phone calls or music tastes, it can be distracting! Fortunately, noise pollution in the workplace can be partially resolved by listening to music through headphones or being mindful and taking phone calls in a separate room whenever possible. Sound barriers between desks can also help, especially in a large open-plan office. It’s also important to remember that social interaction with colleagues is not only enjoyable, but also that collaboration with colleagues leads to better and more creative solutions.
 

Therefore, we recommend that you don't focus too much on those few office annoyances, but rather consider the positive aspects of your workplace and implement solutions wherever possible. 

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