The 13 most annoying kinds of co-workers — and how to avoid being one

• There are several workplace habits that can annoy your fellow co-workers.
• Poor hygiene and sloppy dressing habits can leave a bad impression.
• It's also best to avoid sharing inappropriate information and talking too loudly.

You know that guy who leaves half a tuna fish sandwich in the office fridge, half-wrapped and stinking up the place? Don't be that guy. And while you're at it, don't be these other folks who are basically every office-worker's worst nightmare.

The one who shares too much

TMI, as you likely know, stands for "too much information," but it's not just an acronym, according to April Masini, relationship and etiquette expert, it's an office scourge. Does anyone really want to know where you are in your menstrual cycle? Or how your fantasy football team did over the weekend? Or that you're on the cabbage-soup-cleanse? If you even had to think about it, you actually might be TMI Guy, in which case, please listen: Forcing too much information on your coworkers is an easy mistake to make because there isn't all that much personal information that your coworkers should, or should want to, know about you. So just keep in mind that in the office, sharing is not caring. As Masini explains, it's not only annoying, it's downright offensive in that it pushes the limits of acceptable personal boundaries. And while you're at it, curb those probing personal questions you ask your co-workers. No one likes a mosey Nelly. A better tactic? Try these strategies to help build trust with your co-workers.

The one who shares too much about others

Gossiping about co-workers may be a mainstay of office-based sitcom television, but in the real world, it's destructive and unethical. At first, it might seem fun—a way of bonding with coworkers. But the very moment it begins, another dynamic begins right alongside of it: bullying, explains Heather Monahan, an expert on business and women's empowerment. When gossip gets going, someone is the object, or more accurately, the target. But not only does the target suffer, knowingly or unknowingly, those engaged in the gossiping suffer too because anyone who gossips must understand that at some point, the tables may turn, and they will become the target. The takeaway here is: don't gossip with or about your coworkers. And if you find yourself on other side, make sure to keep a written record of any instances in which you have felt bullied as a result. That written record will serve you well should you decide to bring a complaint to the Human Resources. Think your colleagues might be toxic? Learn the signs you can't trust your coworkers.

The one who talks too loudly

Maybe you don't gossip to your colleagues, but you sure talk loudly on the phone to your spouse, your kids, or your friends. Maybe, you talk loudly at your desk to your doctor. Do you really think your colleagues want to hear these conversations? That's a rhetorical question. If you're the person with no volume control, then you've also inadvertently become TMI Guy or Girl. But what about talking loudly at your desk about work-related matters? If it's just you on the phone, it's quite likely distracting and disturbing to your neighbors. If it's you talking on the speaker phone, you can bet your nearby colleagues are on the verge of snapping their pencils. Even if it's you and another coworker talking loudly at your desk about work matters, it's potentially annoying. "All employees should remember to be mindful of others working near them. If possible, try to make phone calls in a conference room or the hallway instead to avoid disrupting others," suggests Peter Yang, former human resources manager and co-founder of ResumeGo, which offers career coaching and resume writing services. Here are some other really stupid office mistakes you could be making.