Work Jerks: How to Cope with Difficult Bosses and Colleagues

by Louise Carnachan

If you’re stressed and unhappy because of problems with a boss or colleague, you pay a price. Not only can your mental and physical health suffer, your nearest and dearest get sick of hearing about it. Going to bed angry and waking up only to dread a new workday is a terrible way to live.Remote work may have lessened the impact of annoying colleagues for a while, but they can still find ways to irritate. If you’re co-located, the “mute” and “stop video” buttons don’t exist to diminish your exasperation. Not all jerks are the same; the person you find to be a nightmare may be perfectly acceptable to others. And, astonishingly, someone else may even think you’re the jerk!Author Louise Carnachan has the credentials and experience to make her an expert in this area, but more importantly, she’s been in the trenches herself. With an emphasis on the positive actions you can take while being attentive to your specific situation, Work Jerks provides practical advice on how to deal with a variety of problematic coworkers—whether in-person or remotely—so work can stop being something you dread and start being something you enjoy.

Genres: Nonfiction, Business, Audiobook, Self Help

269 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 14, 2022

About the author

Louise Carnachan (pronounced Car-na-han) says that if people had behaved well at work, she never would have had a career. Louise has been a West Linn resident since 2018 after moving from Seattle. Her recent book, Work Jerks: How to Cope with Difficult Bosses and Colleagues is the culmination of a forty-year career in organization development. It is based on her experiences over decades of teaching leadership and communication skills, coaching managers and teams, as well as putting in her own time as an employee in the trenches. She continues to coach a select group of leadership clients and writes a workplace advice blog from her home which she shares with her two feline officemates, Sammy and Davey.

Reviews

[The Tattered Spine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you work with difficult people? I have over 20 years of healthcare experience and I have worked with some difficult people in my life.

This book is a wonderful guide on how to deal with those difficult people. It is definitely directed towards those who work in an office setting but the advice can be applied to anyone who works with other people.

I love the practical advice, that actually includes finding a different position! Many books like this make it seem like all problems are solvable. This book does include some red flags that may lead one to consider a new position.

Another great part of this book is it turns the tables and asks you if you are a work jerk type! We have to remember that sometimes we are the jerk and we should be checking our own behavior.

[Josiah Richardson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This read like a collection of boomerisms. We are warned that would be the case in the introduction, so it isn't any surprise. The ways to handle difficult employees is panoply, and this sometimes read like it was the only way of doing things. Just because it was boomer material doesn't make it wrong - to be sure, the majority of the book was spot on. It just read more like the author's dream job and dream outcomes of work jerks moreso than a practical way to deal with employees and coworkers who are difficult to work with.

[Devons book corner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I went in thinking this was going to really hit the spot. Unfortunately it fell flat for me. While the author covered a variety of different coworkers, there were some that were missed in my opinion. The ways to cope with different bosses was helpful, but I thought of many different scenarios myself. While I didn't hate it, I really didn't love it either.

[Becky | myhyggereads · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒌 𝑱𝒆𝒓𝒌𝒔 is a must-read for anyone who is struggling with a particularly difficult colleague or boss… or maybe they, themselves, are the difficult one!

What I particularly loved about this book was the fact that Louise doesn’t dwell much on the causes, but rather how to deal with these types of people. I know I’ve had my fill of difficult colleagues over the years, and despite what their reasons may be, it often times does not in any way excuse their boorish behaviour.

The fact that Louise offers strategies for those of us dealing with difficult people and also a plan for becoming less difficult is fantastic and super practical!

I highly recommend this book for anyone working right now… I promise you’ll find something relatable in here!

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

We’ve all dealt with them. The people who don’t get along and are difficult. Maybe you are one of them without realizing it. Louis Carnanchan has helpful book on how to work with all kinds of people.

The book is not meant to be read cover to cover, rather read the section on the person that is causing you trouble. Each Jerktype is identified with traits, an example story, and information on how to work with this person. A section is also included on what to do if you have this Jerktype trait.

The prologue of the book explains that how people act and become jerks is rarely a personal attack on you. Everyone has different backgrounds and different views. Ultimately the only thing you can change is you but this book will give you tools you can use to improve work relationships.

[Carmen W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Work Jerks is the kind of guide every workplace needs. Louise Cranachan blends real experience with smart, actionable advice, offering readers clear strategies for handling difficult bosses and colleagues whether you're in the office or remote.

What makes this book shine is its balance of empathy and practicality. Carnachan doesn’t just describe frustrating behaviors; she shows you how to respond in ways that protect your peace, improve communication, and restore a sense of control at work.

A smart, relatable, and genuinely helpful resource for anyone ready to turn workplace stress into healthier, more productive interactions.

[Laura Engel · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Louise Carnachan has hit a home run with Work Jerks, How to Cope with Difficult Bosses and Colleagues. This book is completely relatable, easy to read, yet filled with clear strategies and well-defined problem-solving suggestions for universal problems that occur in the corporate world. Carnachan's important book contains sage and professional advice, along with humor and grace. Employers would be wise to use Work Jerks as a handbook on communication and politics in the workplace. This book is perfect for anyone eager to learn strong and stellar communication skills." -

[Ag · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was such a pleasure to read! I loved the author’s way of talking about things, structured and straightforward. I wish I had this book several years ago when I was still a part of the workforce, being employed by someone, having to deal with colleagues and bosses, and all sorts of people daily, and yes, many of them did fall into categories described in this book. I wish I had had this back then, it would have been an awesome resource!

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

A clear and concise guide to dealing with problematic behaviors at the workplace. The author has a deliciously dry and droll style and skillfully mixes analysis and anecdote. I also loved the diversity of names and situations that are included in the tales from the front.

[Tina McKeever · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anybody that is just starting out in the work force or has been working for 30+ years this book is for you. I have learned so much about how to deal with the people I would with on a daily basic and how not to become a work jerk. Would make a great Christmas stocking stuffer!

[Janell Madison · Rating 5 out of 5]

So happy about this book! It addresses all of the hard things that we all struggle with how to handle at our jobs-A great resource! Even some humor was tossed in. Would be a really great gift!!

[David Fredh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good summary but could be shorter

[Melissa Brain · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must read 🥰

[JENNIFER · Rating 1 out of 5]

Okay. This book was not what I expected. A variety of coworkers were described but it feels like she missed a few... I've found myself coming up with other examples. Even though the Author wants to be helpful with her explanations and 'how to handle' examples, it still felt like something was missing.

Personally, this missed the mark for me. I wanted to read a self-help book and that is not what this was about. Perhaps a survey/quiz to see what category I am in; before I started reading about the vast array of choices.