Slothful coworker demands employee's bonus claiming that she deserves it more, gets 3-week suspension: '[She] is going around the office calling me “selfish” and “greedy”'

Author image for Brad Dickson
Brad Dickson • Managing Editor
Oct 30, 2024 6:00 PM EDT

Hanlon's razor is one of my favorite adages for maintaining sanity in this crazy world, and if you've read a few of these posts, you've probably seen it mentioned almost as many times. The philosophical razor states that one should "Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity." This is all well and good and helps one to let go of the atrocious and selfish behaviors they witness from others while out and about in the world: they don't mean to be that way they're just—well, dumb… I'd postulate, though, that there is a point where the two qualities of "stupidity" and "malicious intent" intersect—where qualities of significant incompetence become a point of cruelty and malevolence.

This idea fits nicely in the case of this coworker who didn't excel in the areas of motivation or personal accountability, instead making her problems those of others with a complete lack of self-awareness.

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  • 01
    Cheezburger Image 10422193152
    via Getty Images For Unsplash+

    Image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Image is for illustration only and subjects are models.

  • This employee secured a bonus for their performance from his employer, which he had worked tirelessly for over the last period. Meanwhile, his coworker had been wasting much of her time on their phone, turning in her work late, and just generally being a deadweight in the office. When the coworker learned the employee had received a bonus for his work, she began demanding that she share part of it with him, going on and on about how she deserved it more.

    Now, this is obviously outrageous, and while it would be one thing if this coworker had also been working her “behind” off and, for some reason, was snubbed by management for her fair share of the rewards, even then, it would be a matter of securing her own bonus payout from the employer and not parting off pieces of her coworkers'. 

    The employee returned with an update, sharing how he had gone to HR to lodge a complaint, earning his coworker a three-week suspension since she had seemingly been on thin ice already. 

    See below the original thread that the employee shared with this online community, followed by the update thread from item #24 onwards.

  • 02
    [Story] Entitled Coworker Demands I "Share" My Bonus Because They Deserve It More S So I work at a company that offers bonuses based on individual performance. I recently got a bonus, and let's just say I worked my off for it-late nights, weekends, the whole deal.
    via nester-prime
  • 03
    But here's the kicker: my coworker, who spends half their time scrolling on their phone and consistently turns in work late, actually had the nerve to demand I "share" my bonus because, in their words, "they deserved it more." They went on about how "we all work hard" and claimed that it was "only fair" since "they have more expenses than me."
    via nester-prime
  • 04
    I tried explaining that we all get evaluated on our own performance, and that it wouldn't be fair to split it. Of course, that didn't go over well, and now they're going around the office calling me "selfish" and "greedy." Some of my other coworkers are rolling their eyes at this, but a few are starting to act a bit colder to me. Am I crazy, or is this entitlement at a whole new level?
    via nester-prime
  • 05
    MmeGenevieve • 21h ago Pretty crazy entitled. Is she going to share hers with you, or does she only take from other's? I'd bring it up with HR.
    via nester-prime
  • 06
    AdFresh8123 21h ago • That's flat-out harassment and shouldn't be tolerated. Document what you can and bring it to your boss' and HR's attention.
    via nester-prime
  • 07
    JustanOldBab... . 21h ago. I would discuss this with your boss given that this Entitled LOSER is creating a hostile work environment.
    via nester-prime
  • 08
    868triniguy • 21h ago Well the biggest thing here is how did they find out how much your bonus is? That information should not be shared around the company. Did you tell them? And if you did, why would you tell someone like that? And if you didn't, who did?
    via nester-prime
  • 09
    crujones43 20h ago • . Oh, you didn't get a bonus? Why not? Make them answer.
    via nester-prime
  • 10
    RazzmatazzOk... • 18h ago • Well the ones being cold towards you should have no issue sharing their bonuses with her.
    via nester-prime
  • 11
    Arkof Vengeance • 21h ago • Toss 'em over a nickle and say " there you go thats your share. Don't spend it all in one place!"
    via nester-prime
  • 12
    Single-Aardvar... 21h ago That's why at my work we are encouraged to keep bonuses quiet
    via nester-prime
  • 13
    jmsecc 13h ago • • I would escalate this. First, your bonus is not her business at all. Second, demanding part of someone's pay is out of line and creates a hostile work environment at best. Is b lying and a host of other things. And last, it deincenivises other people's work.
    via nester-prime
  • 14
    Complex_Pang... • 9h ago. Need to report to HR. This person could be a risk and try to make up some about you.
    via nester-prime
  • 15
    apietenpol No 16h ago way this is real.
    via nester-prime
  • 16
    Kindly-Lie-2965 13h ago • Wow, yes she is super entitled. Has she demanded anyone else's bonus? Curious though, how did she find out? Probably best to limit talking to this coworker outside of work related topics.
    via nester-prime
  • 17
    Also reading back, the people who might be acting "cold" to you might also not received a bonus, and are also a bit salty about it. They know better than to demand part of yours but still feel some sort of way that you got one. Its usually a good rule of thumb to not talk about bonus's, especially if they are performance based and not everyone will get one.
    via nester-prime
  • 18
    TheWorldExha... 13h ago It's harassment, you could definitely go to HR.
    via nester-prime
  • 19
    Hungry_Ad_90... 13h ago. This is textbook Hostile Work Environment and HR hates those words. Make a list of each person who has said something to you about this. Write a detailed report about the co-worker who is DEMANDING the bonus you worked for.
    via nester-prime
  • 20
    Be very thorough. Not only it is illegal for her ask this, it is harassment. I would speak with an attorney as a precaution. Let them know that each day the work environment grows more and more hostile as she attempts to recruit other employees to treat you poorly in an effort to force you to give her mo ey you have earned.
    via nester-prime
  • 21
    This is borderline extortion and the company is at great risk if they don't shut this down. Should HR be unwilling to on this matter. AND allow the harassment to continue. Your attorney will have an excellent case and you will win a tremendous lawsuit.
    via nester-prime
  • 22
    magicninja31 · 12h ago • The correct response is 'If the company thought you deserved a bonus they would have given you one....maybe ask them?
    via nester-prime
  • 23
    Ok_Airline_9031 • 12h ago • Never try to explain to an idiot. But absolutely take this to your boss as voworker is creating a hostile work environment claiming you didnt earn your bonus- which by default is accusng you or the company or both of something nefarious.
    via nester-prime
  • 24
    Update on yesterday's post: [Story] Entitled Coworker Demands I "Share" My Bonus Because They Deserve It More S **Update:** Yesterday, I shared a post about a coworker who expected me to "share" my individually-earned bonus, claiming it was only fair because they had more expenses. I was
    via new.reddit.com
  • 25
    blown away by the responses from you all-some suggesting I let it go, others (jokingly, I hope!) suggesting a slap. But most of you advised me to escalate the situation to HR. Well, I took your advice, and as of this morning (Tuesday, 9 a.m.), I've just left the HR office. They took my complaint seriously, and it turns out I'm not the only one who's had this issue with her. She's now been suspended for three weeks pending further investigation.
    via new.reddit.com
  • 26
    Thank you all for the advice and support! Sorry I couldn't reply to each of your comments individually, but I appreciate everyone who asked for an update.
    via new.reddit.com
  • 27
    Accomplished_Ya... 13h ago. We have now come to the "Find Out" portion of the saga.
    via new.reddit.com
  • 28
    FrigOffLuh . 13h ago • OP if she loses her job as a result of this, don't be like many other people we've seen post in subreddits, it won't be your fault in any way. I say this because of the abundance of posts I've read where people have gone to HR about something a coworker has done and felt
    via new.reddit.com
  • 29
    guilty when the coworker was terminated. In these situations, it's never the fault of the person who's going to HR, it's always the fault of the person whose actions cause someone to go to HR. Thanks for the update OP!
    via new.reddit.com
  • 30
    madhaus • 13h ago Wow! A three week suspension is not messing around. Appreciate the update and please update again if anything else interesting happens.
    via new.reddit.com
  • 31
    Tamalene 13h ago. • Hostile workplace, harassment and guilt tripping. They had it coming... They had it coming...
    via new.reddit.com
  • 32
    RelevantSchool15... . 13h ago what a beautiful way to start the day, thanks for the update!
    via new.reddit.com
  • 33
    Haunting-Arm-84... • 13h ago Good on you some people are so entitled
    via new.reddit.com
  • 34
    fractal_frog • 11h ago . • 3 week suspension is fairly serious. I'm glad something is being done.
    via new.reddit.com
  • 35
    Nukegm426 · 11h ago Now rub it in and when she gets let go tell her you want a portion of her unemployment because you deserve it
    via new.reddit.com
  • 36
    No_Appointment... 12h ago • Oh hells yeah! Glad to hear. Hopefully she doesn't return.
    via new.reddit.com
  • 37
    SnooBunnies7461 · 11h ago . Now she has more to whine about. 'My coworkers would share their bonus and then complained and had me suspended for 3 weeks. Oh poor me.'
    via new.reddit.com

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terrible coworkers workplace discussion employment issues antiwork workplace-stories jobs employee employment-discussion job work coworkers employees overworked-employees workplace Horrible Bosses coworker employment in the workplace
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