Beware the Workplace Arsonist!

By JBlair Brown / JBlair Communications

Every workplace has its heroes - the team players, the innovators, the ones who quietly keep the wheels turning. But every now and then, a different kind of employee shows up. The kind who doesn’t just burn bridges - they set the whole place on fire.

I'm not talking literal flames here, but definitely something just as sinister: I’m talking about the workplace arsonist - the person who ignites chaos through gossip, sabotage, and toxic behavior. They thrive on division, whisper campaigns, and power plays. Whether they’re an entry-level staffer or a senior executive, their damage is real. They burn morale, destroy trust, and leave ashes where collaboration used to be.

To help you identify the negative growth in your organization, I've listed the six traits of the workplace arsonist:

. Gaslighter Extraordinaire

They twist truth until it screams. One day they said it; the next day they didn’t. They deny, distort, and rewrite reality until others start doubting their own sanity. Their goal? Control. Their weapon? Confusion.

2. Manipulative Martyr

Forever the “victim,” they spin every conflict into a sympathy play. They’ll cry foul when confronted, turn accountability into melodrama, and drain compassion from even the kindest coworkers.

3. Saboteur in Silk

Elegant. Polite. Deadly. They sabotage with precision—missing deadlines, “forgetting” key info, or stirring just enough chaos to make others stumble while they glide away spotless.

4. Power Parasite

They cozy up to leadership like ivy on a wall—slowly climbing, quietly choking. They flatter the boss, undermine peers, and build invisible hierarchies based on fear and favoritism.

5. Spirit Killer

This one burns from the inside out. They mock enthusiasm, dismiss creativity, and crush morale one eye-roll at a time. Eventually, no one wants to speak up, because the room itself feels heavy with smoke.

6. Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing

The most dangerous of them all. They’re the first to welcome the new hire, offer “help,” and act like your biggest cheerleader—until they decide you’re competition. Then the claws come out. Their kindness is camouflage, and by the time you see the fangs, the damage is already done.

There you have it: the six traits of the workplace arsonist. So what's next? How do you clean up after the blaze? We'll discuss that in the next post.