The Effects of Difficult Co-Workers on Employee Attitudinal Responses and Intention to Leave Among Chinese Working Adults

Difficult co-workers cause stress and create unpleasant work environments. Yet, the characteristics of difficult co-workers are not thoroughly explored. Following Fritz’s typology of troublesome others at work, this study conceptualized difficult co-workers as those whose traits and behaviors may provoke antipathy. The study also hypothesized that difficult co-workers would trigger negative attitudinal responses. Data were collected from 719 Chinese working adults. Results of structural equation modeling showed that difficult co-workers led to negative employees’ attitudes toward them, and indirectly led to employee intention to leave. Specifically, the study explored the cause of antipathy at work by identifying major unpleasant traits and behaviors of difficult co-workers.