Psychopaths at work: how to protect yourself from the hidden cost MonMonday 15 updated WedWednesday 17 MarMarch 2021 at 12:31am A prospective employee might have a glowing reference from a past manager, but what about other colleagues? ( Print text only Cancel From psychological thrillers to true crime stories, people who depart from social norms can be deeply fascinating. Psychopaths most of all. Working with or for a psychopath, however, is less fun. The research generally agrees about 1 per cent of the population is psychopathic. This means they fail to develop the normal range of emotions, lack empathy for others and are more disposed to antisocial and uninhibited behaviour.