Aussies share what gives them the ‘ick’ at work

This chat might look completely normal and polite but it actually reveals a trait that is considered a huge work “ick.”

This chat reveals a common workplace ick.

“What gives you the ick at work?”

It’s a question that recently went viral, and the answers are equally controversial, hilarious, and relatable.

The American slang term ‘ick’ took off a few years ago, when internet users were using it to describe things that turned them off about people they were dating.

They could be petty, like wearing socks and sandals, or reasonable, like when someone doesn’t have the same moral values as you.

If you said someone gave you the ick, it meant they did something you find unattractive.

People’s icks are entirely subjective. You might find something icky, but someone else might find the exact thing sexy.

Recently, Boost Juice — the juice bar located in almost every shopping centre in Australia — kicked off a viral work ick thread online.

“We’ve heard all your dating horror stories and icebreaker ‘icks’ now, let’s go down the rabbit hole and hear about your workplace pet peeves,” a spokes man for the chain wrote. “Tell us about what drives you absolutely mad at work.”

Cue hundreds of comments.

Gross smells made the ick list. Picture: istock

Some people took the call-out seriously and answered with genuine work issues like not being appreciated by management or being given unrealistic expectations.

They weren’t exactly fun icks, and read like someone needs to get HR on the blower.

“Management expecting more work in less time from the same exhausted workers,” someone vented.

“When you are supposed to work as a team but end up doing all the work yourself,” another wrote.

“Meetings that could have been emails,” one quipped.

Some people can’t handle office icks. Picture: istock

Other Aussies went down the semi-fun route. They aired reasonable grievances but kept it light.

“When they text in our group chats on weekends when I’m trying to enjoy my time away from work,” someone wrote.

“When you have to go into the office. I love working from home,” another complained.

“When you have to follow up multiple times to get an answer,” someone shared.

Then there were the people who shared their petty icks — and they didn’t disappoint.

“When you hear them chew,” someone wrote before explaining they hated people chewing tuna or sardines in the office.

They boldly called the canned fish eaters “the worst ones”.

Chat reveals a workplace ick.

Another shared that they had a massive issue with how people communicated via work chats.

“When someone messages me ‘hi’, then waits for me to say hi back before asking me their question,” they said.

Someone else complained about people who come to work only to immediately bounce to go and buy a coffee.

Having no toilet paper would send anyone over the edge. Picture: istock

Another shared they found it icky when people “insist on taking calls on speakerphone” in an open plan office.

Those gripes paled in comparison though when someone shared the real and harsh realities they were facing at work.

“No one replaces the toilet paper,” they complained.

So should we address our icks in the workplace? Well, only if it is impacting your work.

Ben Thompson, CEO of HR, payroll, and employee engagement platform Employment Hero said that addressing something trivial at work can be “difficult.”

“Among team members, it can be difficult to call someone out at work. This may come with a lot of anxiety and apprehension pending the ‘icky’ issue at hand,” he said.

Instead Mr Thompson suggested a “gentle side conversation” and to avoid being passive-aggressive or calling out the issue in a group scenario.

Mr Thompson said if something is giving you the ick and is impacting your ability to perform, you should take the issue to management.

“If someone’s continuously doing something at work that is negatively impacting an employee’s wellbeing, and even their output, it’s critical this is addressed more formally,” he said.

Originally published as Aussies share what gives them the ‘ick’ at work