This difficult person at work may either:

• Have extremely shoddy work habits or
• Be a chronic attention seeker (negative attention is better than none at all).

Again, the incurable latecomer is a major disruption. The workflow is interrupted, co-workers are incensed, time in spent in recriminations from colleagues and superiors. Chronic latecomers often have personal issues as underlying reasons for their behavior.

However, that does not change the fact that they are generally resented. Resentment is a waste of precious energy, and this translates into less work.

The idea in your dealings with such people is not to let your own professional momentum and personal equilibrium be disrupted.

This article is part of the Difficult people at work series.