Toxic People: Decontaminate Difficult People at Work Without Using Weapons or Duct Tape, by Marsha Petrie Sue (Wiley, £13.99)

What does she mean, no duct tape?
I expect it’s banned by health and safety. It can cause a nasty rash.

True enough. So, what exactly are toxic people?
They’re the coworkers who bring you down.

Can you be more specific?
Well, Petrie Sue can. They are Steamrollers, who are intimidating bullies; Zipper Lips, who never have anything useful to say; Backstabbers; Know-It-Alls; Needy Weenies...

Needy whats?
They’re unproductive, high-maintenance team members who are always chasing praise.

I see
The sixth toxic type is the Whine and Cheeser, who spends the day whining about how awful everything is. I’m not sure where cheese comes into it.

Surely there are more types than that?
No, only six, but I’d like to add people who overuse exclamation marks! You know! Because everything they have to say is so much fun!

Is Petrie Sue one of these?
Yep.

You’re a cynical curmudgeon, aren’t you?
I think technically I’m a combination of Steamroller and Know-It-All.

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