Employee refuses to send template to shady coworker after not getting proper credit for helping him out: 'I'm not sending him the file'

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Feb 3, 2026 2:00 PM EST

There is a difference between helping out your coworkers and doing everything for them.

In any collaborative work environment, people are going to inevitably ask for support or advice on how to execute certain procedures. A seasoned employee might assist a new hire and provide a tutorial on how to get something done efficiently. Sometimes, they'll be required by management to help out the new hires. Other times, they might just be doing it out of the goodness of their hearts.

However, as with all aspects of a working environment, everything is about give and take. In this instance, a well-respected employee walked his coworker through an upcoming presentation he had and showed him the ins and outs of certain procedures. When the coworker learned that the employee had a personalized template he used for these kinds of things, he asked if he could have a look at it. However, the employee was not willing to give that template up, which was his right.

When the coworker gave his presentation, he failed to give the employee any credit for their collaborative work on it. Perhaps the coworker was still salty about not gaining access to the template. Well, the employee was definitely not going to give him access to the template now!

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  • No one wants to feel like their efforts can be taken for granted in the workplace. This coworker clearly could not interpret what was happening from the employee's perspective. After all, the employee worked hard on that template, and it was specifically tailored to how he likes to get things done. It might not have even made any sense to the coworker. 

    Still, just because he refused to share his template does not negate the fact that the employee went out of his way to contribute to the coworker's presentation. He deserved credit for helping him out, but instead, his contributions were entirely ignored. That's not how you form a lasting and healthy relationship with coworkers. The new guy may be naive, but he should know what he's risking by making an enemy in the office so early in his professional career. That will surely backfire!

  • A man gives a presentation to a group of coworkers.
    via Unsplash+ (Yunus Tuğ)

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

  • "[Am I wrong] for not sending coworker my template after he basically used my stuff in a meeting and didn't mention I helped?"

    I (28M) work on a small team and there's a newer guy on our team (I'll call him Joe).
    via MemeBeamDream
  • We sit near each other and our work overlaps a lot so I've helped him out here and there.
    via MemeBeamDream
  • A few weeks ago he asked me how I put together this weekly report we have to do.
    via MemeBeamDream
  • Over the years I've made my own template and a routine that makes it way faster.
    via MemeBeamDream
  • He asked if I could send him my template file. I told him I'd happily walk him through how I do it and explain the steps but I didnt really want to just hand over my exact file.
    via MemeBeamDream
  • It's basically my personal workflow and I've tweaked it forever. So I stayed after work and spent about 45 minutes showing him everything.
    via MemeBeamDream
  • I shared my screen, explained where I pull the numbers, order I do things, what to watch out for, ALL of it.
    via MemeBeamDream
  • He took notes, thanked me, seemed totally normal about it. The next week we had a team meeting and Joe presented his report for the first time.
    via MemeBeamDream
  • And I'm sitting there listening like this is basically my report. Same EVERYTHING even a couple little phrases I always use when I explain the numbers.
    via MemeBeamDream
  • When our boss asked him how he put it together Joe said something like "I built a simple structure that makes it easier" and left it at that, I mean no mention that I spent time walking him through it at all.
    via MemeBeamDream
  • After the meeting I pulled him aside and said "hey, I'm glad it went well but it felt weird hearing you use my exact structure and wording and not even mentioning I helped you." He got defensive right away and said he didnt think he needed to "credit" anyone for help and that I was being insecure for even bringing it up.
    via MemeBeamDream
  • Since then he keeps asking again for the actual template file like "it would save time" and "I already understand it anyway." I told him no and said I'll answer questions if he's stuck but I'm not sending him the file.
    via MemeBeamDream
  • Now he's been cold to me and I've heard he's telling people I'm gatekeeping and trying to make him look bad.
    via MemeBeamDream
  • A couple coworkers said I should just send it because it's a team environment and "it's not that deep" I dont want to be the difficult person but also feel like I already helped him a lot and he showed me exactly how he's going to act with it.
    via MemeBeamDream
  • AITA for refusing to send the template?
    via MemeBeamDream
  • A man gives a presentation to a group of coworkers.
    via Unsplash+ (Yunus Tuğ)

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

  • Impressive-End241 This post seems sus. If you have to give a weekly report and use the same phrases each time, then he says the exact same phrases, wouldn't the managers know it came from you?
    via MemeBeamDream
  • MemeBeamDream Original Poster's Reply because it's a weekly report, most of it is standard and managers dont memorize who said what, it wasnt obvious plagiarism like copying a document more that he used my exact flow and phrases I've used before
    via MemeBeamDream
  • Special_Respond7372 NTA. He should be giving credit where credit is due. He just doesn't want to. You could always send it to him and CC your manager while saying "Here is my template for the report, as requested" or something like that.
    via MemeBeamDream
  • Calm_Initial NTA If it's a team then he should give credit to the team!
    via MemeBeamDream
  • Complex Variation_ NTA. If someone saying not that deep. Means he can figure it out and make it better. He wants to show off and leverage your work.
    via MemeBeamDream
  • timothypjr NTA. However, be sure to add your name to the metadata of any work you help with in case it comes up.
    via MemeBeamDream
  • A man gives a presentation to a group of coworkers.
    via Unsplash+ (Yunus Tuğ)

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

  • Global_Walrus2683 If I was supervising both of you, I would privately tell you that you should give it to him to help the team and privately tell him that he needs to publicly give credit to the team members that help him. It's a learning opportunity for both of you. You are being petty. He is being oblivious at best.
    via MemeBeamDream
  • BMal_Suj You're NTA for not giving him the template. It's yours do with it as you like. It feels like you MIGHT be over- reacting to him not crediting you, tho. I'm not sure of that. But it kind of sounds like you trained him, then he did the work, then he took credit for his work. Office politics are weird. Find out if he can keep doing the reports to the same level of quality without you helping him with his homework. That will tell you (and potentially everyone else) what you need to know.
    via MemeBeamDream
  • AutoModerator ^^^^AUTOMOD Thanks for posting! READ THIS COMMENT - MAKE SURE TO CHECK ALL YOUR DMS. This comment is a copy of your post so readers can see the original text if your post is edited or removed. This comment is NOT accusing you of copying anything. I (28M) work on a small team and there's a newer guy on our team (I'll call him Joe). We sit near each other and our work overlaps a lot so I've helped him out here and there. A few weeks ago he asked me how I put together this weekly repo
    via MemeBeamDream
  • Awesomesince 1973 My husband's boss used to do that to him all the time in meetings. My husband would do the work and "T" would present and take all the credit. I told him that he should say, "Actually, T, when we discussed this last week what I said was blah blah blah.". Or something along those lines. It IS that deep. Team environment or not, stealing/taking credit for your co-workers ideas or work is not being part of the team. And people that tell you it's helping the team are probably also
    via MemeBeamDream

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aita employee toxic-workplace entitled coworker competitive money
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