‘Busy bragging’ is the new toxic trait that’s affecting the workplace

A new study suggests that employees who' stress brag' may be perceived as more unlikable in the workplace.

The world of corporate trends is an ever-growing list, and it can take time to keep up - or avoid it.

From the 'loud labourer' to the office worker sneaking in vacation time under bosses' noses, there's seemingly always a new group to watch out for.

But at least you don't constantly talk about how stressed you are at work - or do you?

If you do, you would fall into the 'busy bragger' category.

But just what is a busy bragger?

Everyone can find work stressful (Getty stock image)

‘Busy bragging’ is a new phenomena, which describes people who constantly bring up how inundated they are with work which does not have the effect you might first presume.

Instead of screaming professionalism and dedication to the job, a study conducted by the University of Georgia's Terry College of Business and published in the journal ‘Personnel Psychology’ suggested that it actually makes you less likable to your co-workers.

Talking to the New York Post, Jessica Rodell, the study’s head author, said: “This is a behavior we’ve all seen, and we all might be guilty of at some point.

“When I was wondering about why people do this, I thought maybe we are talking about our stress because we want to prove we’re good enough.”

To test the effects of so-called ‘stress-bragging’, 360 people were asked to analyze statements from imaginary colleagues who'd just returned from a conference.

Talking about how stressed you are could make you less likeable in the office (Getty stock image)

Whilst some came back and talked about how much they enjoyed the conference, others bragged that it was just another thing to add to their never-ending work load - with many deeming the one bragging to be less competent than their positive counterparts.

And because of their constant 'bragging', colleagues are less likely to help them out, the study found.

Rodell added: “People are harming themselves by doing this thing they think is going to make them look better to their colleagues.”

In a follow-up study to this research, the team then questioned 218 real-life office workers about the busy-braggers they deal with, and they found that it makes it seem to others that it’s a ‘good thing to be stressed’.

Another person's 'stress' could affect the rest of their co-workers (Getty stock image)

Rodell said: “They wind up feeling more stressed, which leads to higher burnout or withdrawal from their work.

“Think of it as this spiraling contagious effect from one person to the next.”

But she added that, of course, feeling actually stressed at work is totally different than 'bragging' about it.

She said: “It’s not the being stressed part that’s a problem.

“If you genuinely feel stressed, it’s OK to find the right confidant to share with and talk about it.

“But be mindful that it is not a badge of honor to be bragged about - that will backfire.”