Coworker throws a fit and delivers a mini TED Talk on teamwork after being politely refused help with a task she was perfectly capable of doing herself: ‘I told her that nothing would have happened to her too if she wrote it’

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Etai Eshet • Editor
May 9, 2025 3:00 PM EDT

Nothing captures the modern office spirit quite like a coworker treating basic competence as a growth opportunity for everyone but themselves. Forget self-sufficiency, this is the age of the impromptu micro-TED Talk, delivered straight to your phone with the intensity of someone who just discovered "thought leadership" and is determined to lead your thoughts directly into the ground.

Refuse to do their paperwork, and suddenly you're enrolled in Workplace Morality 101: a seminar you never signed up for led by someone who can't figure out their own email search bar.

Just imagine the next step: maybe the coworker finally goes the extra mile and posts the saga on LinkedIn, complete with a humblebrag and a tag for maximum public learning.

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  • Today I wasted @mycoworker’s time with a lecture about the importance of helping others, here are five things I learned, followed by a string of hashtags like #Empathy #Teamwork #WhyDontTheyDoMyJob.

  • 01

    "Coworker started lecturing me because I didn't want to do her job for her"

    "After 15 minutes I received a call from her"
    via Anna Tarazevich

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

  • 02
    A coworker came into my office to ask me to write info on some invoices. I told her I sent her all this information by email. She said she needs help with it.
    via Blackcat2332
  • 03
    I did the same action she was supposed to do: did a search in the email. I wrote the info on a few invoices,
    via Blackcat2332
  • 04
    but left the last one to go over with her to understand why she had difficulties to find it herself.
    via Blackcat2332
  • 05
    Cheezburger Image 10503289088
    via Boris Jovanovic

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

  • 06
    When I came to her office and told her I wanted to go over it with her she said "never mind. Leave it".
    via Blackcat2332
  • 07
    After 15 minutes or so I received a call from her in which she started to scold me for not doing this
    via Blackcat2332
  • 08
    action for her. She stated saying sh like "nothing would have happened to you if you wrote it" and "if
    via Blackcat2332
  • 09
    Cheezburger Image 10503289344
    via Anna Tarazevich

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

  • 10
    someone asks for your help you should help just like I always reply if you have any questions".
    via Blackcat2332

  • Because why stop at minor office martyrdom when you can go global with your saga of forced collaboration, performative generosity, and deep, deep avoidance of personal responsibility. In this workplace, TED Talks don’t need stages, just strong Wi-Fi, an extra shot of entitlement, and a never-ending supply of coworkers to “inspire.”

  • 11
    I told her that nothing would have happened to her too if she she wrote it, and that I never ask her for
    via Blackcat2332
  • 12
    things I can do myself. That every thing I ever asked her was directly related to her
    via Blackcat2332
  • 13
    responsibilities at work. Never was a thing I was supposed to do myself and just decided to ask her, or anyone else, to do for me.
    via Blackcat2332
  • 14
    I'm sure nothing of this penetrated her thick skull.
    via Blackcat2332
  • 15
    I'm still ped off at her audacity and her feeling of entitlement.
    via Blackcat2332
  • 16
    Suitable_South_144 Of course your coworker is upset with you. You failed to make her lazy entitled bottom more comfy by doing her work for her. The audacity!!! | would start keeping track of her requests for you to do her job and pass the information
    via Suitable_South_144
  • 17
    along to higher ups, as in your work is getting impacted by coworker trying to dump her responsibilities on you. Let them know you've tried to educate her on the proper way to do her tasks, but she's refusing to learn.
    via Suitable_South_144
  • 18
    Weary-Babys She clearly follows the give inch - take a mile playbook. Those folks need iron clad boundaries.
    via Weary-Babys
  • 19
    Your real mistake was giving in. Sounds like next time you should stick with, "I sent you the information. This is your task."
    via Weary-Babys
  • 20
    Fun_Skirt8220 She called so it wasn't written, send an email reiterating- as we spoke about on our call, i am happy to help you do work outside your responsibilities and I'm happy to give you information to do
    via Fun_Skirt8220
  • 21
    your work, but i am not able to do your responsibilities for you while completing my own. Thank you for your acknowledgement.
    via Fun_Skirt8220
  • 22
    You now have proof of what was asked and your response and she can't claim you had some other form of deal.
    via Fun_Skirt8220
  • 23
    SeaworthinessOne 1752 I've dealt with this. Stop doing anything for her. Be busy even if you're not. Then watch her hang herself. It will happen quickly
    via SeaworthinessOne

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management boss workplace-stories hr toxic-workplace manager bosses work PTO managers supervisor workplace Horrible Bosses work-life balance
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