Few people set out to be the office's resident mean girl. Maybe you aimed for HBIC status and got a little ahead of yourself on the B part. Maybe the issue is that you derive little joy from your current occupation, so you're just keeping your head down and bypassing all niceties. Or maybe you suspect no one will take you seriously if you aren't more ice than nice.
Bottom line: You don't need to be a masterful manipulator like UnREAL's Quinn (who spends her time creating mega-drama on the show's faux-reality love competition) to end up with a bad rap.
Here, eight reasons you might be the mean girl at work. Thanks.
1. You end every email with "Thanks."
Would it kill you to use an exclaimation?
2. You send emails with no punctuation at all.
"OK" is not a response. It is a coded proclamation that the recipient should go running into rush-hour traffic.
3. Those emails about a post-work happy hour? You ignore them every. single. time.
By all means, choose not to attend. But at least reply to whomever planned it and make up some excuse. The in-laws are in town again, damn!
4. You're tapping away at your phone before the meeting starts.
Those few minutes of chatter before the boss sweeps in and starts the meeting? They're friendship fairy dust. Your email (or Instagram) can wait.
5. At closing time, you wordlessly gather your stuff and make a beeline for the elevator.
The quick, general "G'night!" is all but mandatory. And if you think people who do it are annoying and distracting, lady, you are the problem.
6. You dramatically pop in headphones and shoot glares when a conversation bubbles up near you.
Yes, open floor plans suck, but it is that hard to just let the chitchat happen (or, if it goes on too long, smile and give a sweet, "Could you keep it down a tiny bit?")?
7. You close the door every time you stop into your work wife's office.
Everyone knows you are talking about them. And now everyone is talking about you.
8. You eat the yogurt you're preeeeetty sure, like 88 percent sure, is yours.
Make that 100 percent or walk away, fridge thief.
For more examples serious office mean girl behavior, check out the UnREAL Season 2 trailer here:
Tune in to the second season of UnREAL, premiering on Lifetime on June 6th at 10/9c.
Follow Marie Claire on Facebook for the latest celeb news, beauty tips, fascinating reads, livestream video, and more.
-
Travis Kelce Made a Sweet Slip-Up on His Podcast That Shows Taylor Swift Is Always on His MindFans are gushing about the romantic Freudian slip.
-
Joe Alwyn Had a Flirty Red Carpet Moment with British Comedian and Presenter Amelia DimoldenbergHe joked that they were "kindred spirits" during a bit of interview banter.
-
Taylor Swift Fans Are Melting Down Trying to Decipher a Hand Gesture She Made at the Latest Eras Tour Stop"I mean she wouldn’t just countdown to the last show cause it’s the last show…right? Something special has to happen………. right???"
-
The 20 Best Winter Date Outfits, Cold Be DamnedYour guide for when it's cold out, but you have a hot date.
-
30 Gifts for Your Girlfriend She Won't HatePromise.
-
14 Cute Slippers You'll Want to Live InCan you say happy feet?
-
What Michelle Cordeiro Grant Wears to WorkThe Lively founder dresses to feel like her most confident self.
-
Your Back-to-Office Style Guide Is HereLean into power casual.
-
Lindsay Adams's Artwork Is Her Peace and Her ProtestThe 30-year-old artist and disability advocate speaks through her paintings and through her clothing.
-
What Rebecca Minkoff Wears to WorkThe designer and queen of accessorizing shares the closet staples that have helped her be fearless, in and out of the office.
-
What Daily Harvest Founder Rachel Drori Wears to WorkThe CEO spices up monochromatic looks with food-patterned sweaters.
