DO your co-workers drive you crazy? Are you wondering why it is so hard to fit in at the office? You are not alone.

Thirty-nine per cent of workers agree with you, according to a CareerBuilder survey that questioned at least 4,900 workers.

Women employees (42 per cent) seem to feel more out of place in the office than male employees (37 per cent). Looking at industries, health care, sales and professional and business services top the list when it comes to struggling to relate to co-workers.

“Today’s workplace is made up of many different types of people and sometimes, behaviour can come across as being crazy or inappropriate for the office,” says Rosemary Haefner, CareerBuilder’s vice-president of human resources.

Workers tell stories of colleagues acting crazy on the job:

* “Co-worker talks openly about flatulence.”

* “Co-worker in the cubicle next to me wears 3-D glasses with the lenses removed.”

*”Co-worker repeatedly bangs a mallet on the table for no apparent reason.”

* “Co-worker whistles eight hours a day.”

* Some “co-worker cleaned fingernails using a counterpart’s business card while sitting in their office.”

* Some “co-worker chews tobacco and spits it into empty bottles.”

Haefner shares some tips to help with colleague conflict:

* Talk to your co-worker about his or her behaviour. Be honest. Talk in private to avoid embarrassment and to keep the situation from becoming worse.

* Go to a higher level. You might need to involve the boss if a co-worker’s behaviour is negatively affecting your ability to do your job.

* Move to another area. Ask if you can change desks if you and your colleague can’t reach an agreement.

“Communication is key to dealing with co-workers’ ability to produce good work — for whatever reason,” says Haefner. “It is important to identify why their behaviour is bothering you. Often, having a professional conversation with your co-worker will solve the problem and allow everyone to work in harmony.”

— Creators News Service