'She said I've damaged our team spirit': 28-year-old marketing employee defends himself after a coworker blames a client delay on "team oversight," clarifying he did his part and even sent his coworker a reminder to do hers, sparking office feud

Author image for Emma Saven
Emma Saven
Oct 14, 2025 10:00 AM EDT

Why should a committed hardworker have to take the blame for someone else's incompetence, especially when it has the potential to affect their job? We love a good teamwork moment, office-besties forever…However, when a team member who slacked off is more than happy to drag you down with them whilst looking your boss right in the eyes, standing up for yourself shouldn't make you the office villain, should it?

Marketing is not solely about creativity, it also involves a lot of organization, especially when pitching to major clients. This employee was working on a project with another one of his coworkers, but after missing a crucial update for their client, she ended up blaming it on a "team oversight'...However, he doesn't think he should be involved in her so-called team excuses, when he fulfilled all of his duties, and it was actually in fact a 'her oversight'. So he ensures to publicly inform his boss about his completion of all required tasks. To put it simply: we don't think they're going to be high-fiving in the corridor again, or gossiping over lunch either. Because whatever office friendship they had seemed to start and end in that office room.

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  • She can claim There's No ‘I' in Team, all she wants…But he's not having it. Some might say that sometimes, if it's a team job, both the praise and criticism should be everyone's reward and punishment. You can't pick and choose, otherwise, you're better off working alone, it just may be a lot less effective! However, he claims that even the fact that his reminders were overlooked is further proof that he should not be held responsible for the unprofessional delay. However, their manager's take on this office-feud may surprise you…

  • 01
    Coworkers blaming one another in front of their coworkers
    via creativaimages

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02

    AITA for refusing to take the blame after my coworker messed up a project we both worked on?

    I (29M) working in a small marketing team where teamwork really matters. Recently, my coworker (27F), and I were tasked with a significant project for a big client.
    via Head-Phone-4481
  • 03
    I took care of the data analysis while she was in charge of communicating with the client.
    via Head-Phone-4481
  • 04
    Last week, she missed a crucial update for the client, which ended up causing a significant delay.
    via Head-Phone-4481
  • 05
    When our manager asked about it, she referred to it as a team oversight. I made it clear that I had done my part on time and even sent her reminders to follow up.
    via Head-Phone-4481
  • 06
    Now, she's really upset with me, claiming I threw her under the bus in front of our management and that I've damaged our team spirit.
    via Head-Phone-4481
  • 07
    I told her I can't accept blame for something that wasn't my fault. My manager agreed that I wasn't in the wrong, but suggested I could have approached the situation with a bit more tact.
    via Head-Phone-4481
  • 08
    Two coworkers working on a visual project
    via bongkarngraphic

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 09
    Now, my coworker is barely talking to me, and it's making the work environment pretty uncomfortable.
    via Head-Phone-4481
  • 10
    Am I the jerk for standing up for myself instead of trying to protect the team's image?
    via Head-Phone-4481
  • 11
    Connect-Thought2029 She was very inconsiderate, she didn't do her part and blamed you as well for her mistakes. It's team work if the whole team partecipate and do their part . This isn't the case. NTA, she needs to learn to take accountability for her mistakes
    via Connect-Thought2029
  • 12
    WhyAmlStill Here86 Team effort is sending reminders about the communication date, like you did. Refusing to take the fall for someone else's error isn't throwing them under the bus, it's a learning opportunity
    via WhyAmlStill
  • 13
    freakydad4u sounds to me that your co-worker was relying on you to do all the work, then dropped the ball on her part. the manager is correct, you could have handled it with more tact, but she is the one that screwed up but will not take any sort of accountability...go figure
    via freakydad4u
  • 14
    No_Street_5196 Like they say "your coworkers are not your friends". At the end of the day, everyone is there to earn a living, and everyone should put themselves first. It's just how it is. If it was in the other foot, he would have to consider his family etc, and he would choose them over you. Just as you should.
    via No_Street_5196
  • 15
    GraceOfTheNorth Your manager sounds right about the tact. Often it is more about how you do things than actually what you did.
    via GraceOfTheNorth
  • 16
    Peter_gggg Partly With only 2 in a team for a project, I'd expect to be joined at the hip for all aspects If it was going to fail, I would know, and would step in
    via Peter_gggg
  • 17
    Sure it's her responsibility to do certain stuff, but when a project fails, no one wins Next time, Most successful projects have :a project plan, with key actions, owners, and a 9:00 a.m. daily review session
    via Peter_gggg
  • 18
    Employees writing in their note books
    via Mikhail Nilov

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 19
    Jesiplayssims Refusing to let someone else make you look bad has nothing to do with teamwork and everything to do with respect
    via Jesiplayssims
  • 20
    Juicy JellyBean67 You did the right thing by being honest about your responsibilities. Protecting yourself doesn't mean you're sabotaging the team it just means you're accountable. Maybe a calm conversation later could smooth things over with your coworker without taking the blame for her mistake.
    via JuicyJellyBean67
  • 21
    Different One265 You are not married to it. Ignore her tantrum and buy her a pacifier.
    via Different_One265
  • 22
    Snurgisdr The more tactful thing would be to open with something like "It was not a team oversight. Co- worker, would you like to clarify?", giving her a chance to come clean. Then throw her under the bus if she won't.
    via Snurgisdr
  • 23
    seamuncle There's a lot to be said for divide and conquer— but as someone who has lead successful teams, on brutally hard but successful projects, everyone needs to be accountable for everything.
    via seamuncle
  • 24
    It was on her to check in that you'd properly taken care of the data and it was on you to check in that she was in contact with the client. It's also on your boss to make sure both of you understand this. ETH
    via seamuncle
  • 25
    Amazing-Wave4704 Document EVERYTHING. Shell be looking for ways to screw you over, but luckily it sounds like she's too stupid to do it effectively. But be careful.
    via Amazing-Wave4704

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terrible coworkers boss antiwork workplace-stories employee drama presentation marketing clients work coworkers teamwork blame slacking off tension exposed workplace team
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