Work jerks, and how not to be one

When you work as an editor for a daily newspaper, you learn to value reporters who write "clean" copy.

If the spelling, punctuation, grammar and style are correct when a story reaches your computer monitor, you can focus on working with a reporter to really polish and improve the piece.

On the other hand, if it takes you an hour to wade through many basic fixes, it's that much harder to dig deeper into the story you're trying to tell.

I don't share this example because I'm about to give a primer on journalism. And I don't claim to be a superb reporter or writer.

However, I have worked with people who drove me crazy with their lack of attention to detail, and I'm guessing many of you have had a similar experience.

At least, if a recent survey is to be believed, sloppy work by co-workers is a common pet peeve.

The survey by Accountemps — a staffing service for temporary accounting, finance and bookkeeping professionals — was conducted by an independent research firm and is based on interviews with 1,400 chief financial officers from U.S. companies with more than 20 employees.

The CFOs were asked, "Which one of the following co-worker behaviors annoys you the most?" Forty-one percent said lack of attention to detail or sloppy work.

After that, 23 percent said gossiping or engaging in office politics; 18 percent said missing deadlines; 12 percent said being perpetually late; and 5 percent said presenting other's ideas as one's own.

"Having to constantly double-check someone else's work is a sure recipe for tension between coworkers," says Max Messmer, chairman of Accountemps, in a press release. "The success of any team depends on everyone carrying his or her weight."

I couldn't agree more. And, personally, I could easily vote for any of those "annoying" responses.

In the news business, missing a deadline is an especially heinous sin. I worked with one reporter who never met a deadline he wouldn't miss. I liked him as a person, and still do, but I was constantly harping on him to get his stories in on time. Drove me nuts!

Perhaps even worse is the co-worker who spends all of his time playing political games instead of fulfilling his actual duties.

Somehow, these people always seem to progress in the company, at least until they stick a knife in the back of the wrong co-worker … or supervisor. Meanwhile, the rest of us end up doing the work they ignore.