Let’s be honest — every office has that person.
Maybe it’s the employee who overshares about their dog’s digestive issues during a budget meeting. Or the one who texts you at 9:47 p.m. with “quick questions” that are never quick.
Workplace boundaries aren’t just a personal thing — they’re a culture thing. And if your office is running low on No-BS boundaries, it’s only a matter of time before stress, resentment, and burnout start taking over.
To help you spot (and maybe gently course-correct) these behaviors, I’ve rounded up seven classic office personalities with common boundary issues.
Office Personalities Who Are Terrible at Boundaries
As you read through these, think about the people you work with. Do any of these sound familiar?
- Mary Martyr
The office doormat. Mary says yes to everything, whether she has time or not, then quietly stews when no one acknowledges her sacrifices. She equates setting boundaries with being selfish and wears her exhaustion like a badge of honor.
Boundary Blunder: Mary can’t say no and ends up burned out because of it. She’s short with leadership, coworkers, and even customers, and her resentment leaks out.
- Bulldozer Bob
Bob micromanages projects and people, barges into your office without warning, and assumes your time is his to command — whether it’s 3 p.m. or 8 p.m.
Boundary Blunder: Bob ignores personal space, time limits, and workload capacity. He wants what he wants, and he’s not concerned about the trail of burned-out employees he leaves in his wake.
- Needy Nancy
Nancy is a chronic interrupter and over-sharer. She treats coworkers like her personal therapists and derails your day with long-winded stories about her hairdresser’s sister’s man troubles.
Boundary Blunder: Emotional dumping and time hijacking. One minute you’re on track to finish your To-Do list for the day, and the next, you’re wondering where the afternoon (and your patience) went.
- Overcommitted Olivia
Olivia signs up for everything — the office holiday party, the charity run, the extra client project — even when she’s already drowning in work. She fears that saying no will make her look unhelpful or weak.
Boundary Blunder: Olivia volunteers beyond her limits and silently suffers. Of course, she can’t possibly complete everything she takes on, so she’s also dropping balls left and right and letting people (who were counting on her) down.
- Guilt-Trip Greg
Greg’s ninja skill is making you feel bad for having boundaries. He’ll say things like, “I guess I’ll just do it myself, even though I’m swamped too.” His passive-aggressive tactics pressure people into overextending themselves.
Boundary Blunder: Greg manipulates those around him with guilt to get what he wants. His coworkers don’t enjoy teaming up with him because they know they’ll just end up overworked and feeling guilty.
- TMI Tina
Tina has no filter. She’ll tell you all about her weekend’s relationship drama or graphic medical issues over Monday morning coffee. She can’t (or won’t) read the room.
Boundary Blunder: Tina overshares and makes others uncomfortable. Since she’s an open book, she expects others to be as well and ends up asking questions she has no business asking.
- Silent Sam
Sam never speaks up. He’ll quietly take on extra work, tolerate invasive questions, and accept unrealistic deadlines — all while silently fuming inside. The problem is, no one knows he’s upset until he explodes, and HR receives an SOS.
Boundary Blunder: Sam likes to keep the peace, so he avoids setting boundaries altogether. Unfortunately, his anger leaks out (at the most inopportune time) through sarcastic comments and obnoxious facial expressions.
Conclusion
Every workplace has a mix of personalities, and chances are you recognized a few of these boundary-challenged types (maybe even yourself — no judgment). The good news? Boundaries can be taught, practiced, and improved.
When people learn to communicate their limits clearly and respectfully, it benefits everyone. That’s what No-BS boundaries are all about — ditching the drama, respecting people’s time, and building a work culture where saying No is celebrated.
