Woman refuses to help callous coworker after taking credit for work that wasn’t hers, but it bites her in the back when boss ridicules her for not helping with the next project

Author image for Briana Viser
Briana Viser • Writer and Editor
Jan 5, 2025 3:00 PM EST

Welcome back ladies and gentlemen of the internet. Work life mixes with personal life far too much for comfort. Sometimes I feel like I spend the majority of my time at work, and in the few hours I have left over, I use it for recharge, socializing, and sleeping. We spend at least 8 hours a day at our work, and sometimes more. Having good relationships with your coworkers is crucial to having a healthy and stable life at work, and contributes to your quality of life more than you realize. 

In this story, it centers around two women who don't exactly get along at work. The protagonist feels she goes above and beyond, and wants to be recognized for what she does in the company. She had been working on a project for some time, and her coworker wasn't as disciplined. She was more indolent, and ignored her responsibilities. Well, at a meeting they have, the protagonist is shocked to see that her lazy coworker presented her work. 

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  • 01
    O ய M Л 4 0 P 3 40 X 400 "Rachel basically copied my work and presented it as her own" 10 14
    via @gettyimages / Canva
  • 02
    r/AITAH ⚫ 13 hr. ago MoonlitPixie47 AITA for refusing to help my coworker with her project after she took credit for mine?
    via u/MoonlitPixie47
  • 03
    I (30F) work in a team of five at a marketing company, and we've been working on a big project for the past few weeks. I've been putting in a lot of extra hours, staying late, and really pushing myself to get things done on time. My coworker, Rachel (28F), is part of the team, but she's been a little... disengaged. She's been
    via u/MoonlitPixie47

    Being able to work cooperatively with coworkers is the bare minimum of a workplace. It's unfortunate to feel burdened by not enjoying your workplace because of the people around you, but we've all been there. I feel incredibly lucky to love my coworkers and consider them my friends. 

  • 04
    missing meetings, showing up late, and not really contributing much to the work. I've tried to help her get caught up and offered to work together, but she always seems too busy or distracted.
    via u/MoonlitPixie47

    It's never pleasant to work with someone intimately and feel like they're not pulling their weight, but it's even worse when they're taking your credit. 

  • 05
    Last week, we were finalizing the project and I sent over my section for review. When it came time for the presentation to the higher- ups, I found out that Rachel had basically copied my work and presented it as her own. She didn't even acknowledge that I helped her or that the work was mine. I was pretty livid but didn't
    via u/MoonlitPixie47
  • 06
    say anything during the meeting, trying to keep it professional. Afterward, I confronted her about it and she played it off like it was no big deal. She said she was just "too busy" and didn't have time to work on her part, so she "used mine as a reference." I told her that it wasn't a "reference"-it was my actual work, and she took credit for it.
    via u/MoonlitPixie47
  • 07
    Now she's asking me to help her with her next part of the project, but I'm really upset and don't feel like I should. I've worked hard, and I feel like she's trying to take advantage of me. Our boss has noticed she's been slacking lately and is counting on me to help, but I just don't think I can support someone who has already taken
    via u/MoonlitPixie47
  • 08
    advantage of me like this. I'm getting a lot of pressure from the team and even some friends to just let it go, but I'm standing firm on not helping her. AITAH for refusing to help her. after what she did?
    via u/MoonlitPixie47
  • 09
    Traditional-Da... • 13h ago • You need to talk to your boss about her taking credit for you work and explain that you aren't comfortable with putting in that amount of work for her to steal it. She needs to step up and do her own work.
    via u/Traditional-Da
  • 10
    Altruistic-Staff... • 13h ago • Top 5% Commenter You should talk to your boss about the situation. It's your boss's job to manage how work is spread amongst the team. Maybe you should ask to be part of the presentation if you work on
    via u/Altruistic-Staff
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    the project, that way you will both get credit. Also, when the project is done, send an email to your boss with the total number of hours spent on the project.
    via u/Altruistic-Staff
  • 12
    MoonlitPixi... OP • 13h ago • I've always tried to be a team player and help others, but I feel like Rachel is taking advantage of me. I don't think I should be expected to help someone who didn't do their part and took credit for my work. I'm just trying to protect my
    via u/MoonlitPixi
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    own contributions and not let her walk all over me.
    via u/MoonlitPixi
  • 14
    BlueGreen 1956 · 13h ago • ΝΤΑ Top 1% Commenter Tell Rachel to go jump. Once bitten, twice shy.
    via u/BlueGreen 1956
  • 15
    _gadget_girl 12h ago • Top 5% Commenter Let your boss know why you are hesitant. Bring in proof. Going forward keep copies of your work, cc your boss. when corresponding with Rachel. Tell your boss that you want to help and be a team player, but you draw
    via u/_gadget_girl
  • 16
    the line at being used and taken advantage of. Let him know you are 100% willing to help getting the project completed as long as the two of you can figure out a way to make sure that Rachel can't poach your work.
    via u/_gadget_girl
  • 17
    FreezeMeTrophy • 4h ago Helping her again would be like lending your pen to someone who just stabbed you in the back with it. She's already shown you she'll take advantage of your hard work, so why give her another chance to do it? Definitely NTA.
    via u/FreezeMeTrophy
  • 18
    Ok_Resource_8... • 12h ago Top 1% Commenter If the boss has already noticed she is slacking, now is the time to tell the boss you will be more than happy to help her AGAIN, but this time you would like credit for your work. When he acts surprised, DO NOT THROW
    via u/Ok_Resource_8
  • 19
    HER UNDER THE BUS EXACTLY, but tell him with the first part she was overwhelmed with all the work and didn't have time, so she took what you had done and presented it as hers. Now you know she probably didn't have the time to add your name to
    via u/Ok_Resource_8
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    the work, but you worked hard and would have liked a little acknowledgement. She gets exactly what she deserves.
    via u/Ok_Resource_8
  • 21
    • enypcbk 10h ago • Not the a hole at all. Rachel had the audacity to steal your work and then act like it was no big deal? Helping her now would just enable her behavior. She needs to own her responsibilities, not rely on you to bail her out after blatantly disrespecting
    via u/enypcbk
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    you. Stand your ground, and if your boss starts asking questions, be upfront about what happend.
    via u/enypcbk

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