‘This feels like intentional sabotage’: Coworker pursues vendetta against fellow colleague, repeatedly deletes and takes credit for work their colleague completes

Author image for Lana DeGaetano
Lana DeGaetano • "Show me to me please."
Feb 14, 2025 7:00 PM EST

When anyone first starts a new job at a new company, they hope they'll get along with not only their boss and their boss's boss but also their fellow colleagues. Work settings, however, do not rid their employees' of the childish mindset and behaviors they've been building since elementary school. 

When you think about it, workplaces are just adult daycare (for a paycheck), and someone is bound to step out of line and expose themselves for the whiny adult baby they are… If you've experienced an unprofessional, vengeful coworker, you know what I'm talking about.

The story you're about to read is a tale about a coworker's vendetta against their colleague, the individual who posted the story. This coworker has been deleting and taking credit for work the colleague has completed, and their higher-ups are doing nothing about it but saying they'll "keep an eye" on it. If you're interested in this story, you can scroll below and see how it unfolds. Additionally, you'll find some comments from users who are offering advice on what their next steps should be.

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  • "It feels like she's trying to position herself for a promotion at any cost, even if it means taking credit for others' work."
    via Toa Heftiba For Unsplash+

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • "Coworker Keeps Deleting My Work and Taking Credit for It"

    I've been dealing with a really frustrating situation at work, and I don't know what to do next. My coworker has been deleting my work and redoing it under her name. I first noticed this when I saw that some entries I had made
    via Environmental_Lie541
  • in our accounting software were missing, and when I asked her about it, she made a weak excuse. I reported it to my supervisor and manager, and they were angry because they
    via Environmental_Lie541
  • had checked my work before and confirmed she deleted it. They said they'd keep an eye on her, and my supervisor planned to talk to her without mentioning my name.
    via Environmental_Lie541

  • This is where the supervisor went wrong. Deleting an employee's work is already grounds for termination because it is considered bad conduct, and it also compromises the workflow of the office. The fact that the higher-ups are, intentionally or not, protecting an employee who clearly can't complete their role's tasks without sabotaging another colleague, makes this story seem a bit fishy. You'd think that this employee's boss would try to escape the possibility of a lawsuit, but they clearly don't care enough…

  • However, I don't feel like that's enough because I don't trust her anymore. She has also: 1 Once stopped me from reporting a mistake to our supervisor, saying we should "check first." A minute
    via Environmental_Lie541
  • later, she sent the exact message I was about to send, making it seem like she found the issue. 2 Tried to convince me that transactions I had already marked in an Excel file were missing when they weren't,
    via Environmental_Lie541
  • making me second-guess my work. 3 Responded to an email from our manager in a way that made it seem like I and another coworker ignored a task, when in reality, she had already done it and forgot.
    via Environmental_Lie541
  • On top of all this, she has a habit of lying about random things unrelated to work, which makes her even less trustworthy. She also keeps making comments about how she "should be a
    via Environmental_Lie541
  • senior accountant" but is only a junior because the company is small. It feels like she's trying to position herself for a promotion at any cost, even if it means taking credit for others' work.
    via Environmental_Lie541
  • Cheezburger Image 10467950336
    via Ahmet Kurt For Unsplash+

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • Additionally, for the past two weeks, I've been doing all the bookkeeping work and reconciliations while she takes forever on simple tasks. We have a daily reconciliation task that takes 20 minutes, but she drags
    via Environmental_Lie541
  • it out for hours on purpose while I do everything else. She also talks loudly on the phone (just the two of us in the office) and leaves early on Fridays, they let her go because she has a doctor's appointment she must go, but
    via Environmental_Lie541
  • I've overheard her on the phone saying that she's going for a laser appointment or going straight home to clean after doctor, how is that even fair to others when she's not even sick what she has.
    via Environmental_Lie541
  • It's especially frustrating because she gets paid more than me, even though she has stated in her interview that she has only one year of experience.
    via Environmental_Lie541
  • This feels like intentional sabotage, and I can't go to work feeling anxious every day, wondering what she'll change or erase next. I like my job, but I believe what she did is unforgivable. The CFO told me
    via Environmental_Lie541
  • that he will keep her under his watch and our supervisor said she will speak to her, but is this enough? I can't just go to work and pretend like nothing happened. I only told the CFO and supervisor about the first 3 points, not the rest.
    via Environmental_Lie541
  • Has anyone dealt with something similar? Is it fair to just let her get away with just a talk? We're not in school anymore
    via Environmental_Lie541
  • 3Maltese There may be an audit log showing login information and what has been deleted. Check it daily.
    via 3Maltese
  • MidwestMSW Why haven't they fired her? She lacks integrity.
    via MidwestMSW
  • VeganMinx When you post items, can you send a message (email/Teams) to your manager letting them know work is complete? Or start a completion log to track work that is being completed for timeliness or something?
    via VeganMinx
  • Environmental... Yes since I noticed she is doing that, I keep notes of the things I do and I let my supervisor know on skype so she can check it later, this is how the supervisor knew that the other girl lied. But I don't know what to expect anymore from that girl
    via Environmental_Lie541
  • McCr ch G Deleting other's work just to take credit is active sabotage. This should be a immediately fire-able offense. Document everything, give her some more opportunities to steal, and file an HR complaint with all the proof
    via McCr**ch
  • Tourbill Keep a written track of everything she does. Then start looking for a new job. If you find something that looks good, take the list to your boss and tell him you can't work with her any longer. Either she goes or you have found a new position and are ready to leave.
    via Tourbill

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terrible coworkers workplace-stories entitlement career advice revenge work coworkers askreddit reddit story entitled people karma career careers workplace reddit thread red flag r-entitled coworker entitled people
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