IT employee blames coworker for missed deadline, gets upset when he refuses to cover his weekend shift: 'I looked like the difficult one'

Author image for Ally Perry
Ally Perry • Writer and Editor
Feb 9, 2026 9:00 AM EST

If you want good workplace relationships, you have to put the effort into cultivating them.

Being the type who always wants to get ahead, no matter what the cost, is unlikely to help with this. While it is commendable to have ambition and drive, many people won't take kindly to this being at the expense of their own well-being or professional standing. If a supportive working environment is important to you, it is imperative that you think about the desires of those you work with, as well as your own.

Although many of us may consider this to be a pretty obvious point to make, that doesn't stop many coworkers from being a pain to work with due to their pathological insistence that they can never be in the wrong. It is not an attractive quality in any context, but it can be particularly annoying when there is a job to be done, and they are of little help to the process. The fact is that people are not going to want to help you if you seem to be unwilling to help them, whether the work is involved or not. If you are going to act selfishly, you need some bargaining chips.

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  • two male coworkers sit at the same desk, looking at their separate computer screens
    via Tim van der Kuip

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

  • In this story, a man who worked in IT support had been frustrated by his coworker in the same department. They had to have a meeting with their manager about the excessive amount of time it was taking to resolve some customer tickets.

    During the meeting, this colleague blamed the man for making the process slower, despite the fact that they had collaborated on a certain approach to solve the issue.

    After this incident, he texted him asking if he would be able to cover a weekend shift for him because he had some family commitments. The man refused on the grounds that he had unfairly made him look bad in front of their manager. He wasn't sure if he was being too harsh.

  • Am I wrong for refusing to cover my coworker's shift after he threw me under the bus in a meeting?

    So I (27M) work in IT support at a mid sized company and theres this coworker (32M) on my team who Ive worked with for about a year.
    via AffectionateLove8076
  • We're supposed to collaborate on tickets but lately hes been kinda weird. Two weeks ago we had this big meeting with our manager about why some customer tickets were taking too long to resolve.
    via AffectionateLove8076
  • There was this one issue that we BOTH worked on together, spent like 3 days troubleshooting it.
    via AffectionateLove8076
  • When the manager asked what happened my coworker literally said "yeah I tried to fix it quickly but he kept insisting we do it his way and it ended up taking way longer." I was sitting right there and just froze.
    via AffectionateLove8076
  • Like what? We decided on that approach together and it actually worked in the end. I tried to clarify but the manager had already moved on and I looked like the difficult one who slows everything down.
    via AffectionateLove8076
  • After the meeting I asked him why he said that and he just shrugged and was like "I mean we did take a while on it" and changed the subject.
    via AffectionateLove8076
  • Didnt even acknowledge that he made it sound like it was all my fault. Now hes texting me asking if I can cover his weekend on call shift this Saturday cause he wants to go to some family thing.
    via AffectionateLove8076
  • Normally Id probably say yes cause the extra pay is decent and Im trying to keep some money saved up, but after that meeting Im just not feeling like doing him. any favors.
    via AffectionateLove8076
  • I told him I couldnt and he got annoyed saying Im being petty and that "work stuff should stay at work." But like...
    via AffectionateLove8076
  • why should I help someone who made me look bad to our boss? Am I the jerk here?
    via AffectionateLove8076
  • TL;DR: Coworker threw me under the bus in front of the management, now is mad that I won't cover his shift.
    via AffectionateLove8076
  • a man sitting at a desk, working on a laptop with a large computer screen behind it
    via Azwedo L.LC

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

  • Successful-Lie1603 "sorry, I have other plans." "What are they?" "Personal."
    via Successful-Lie1603
  • Kappybook916 NTJ. He FA, he's FO. And you are leaving stuff at work. He can pick up the work stuff while he's on call over the weekend.
    via Kappybook916
  • mcindy28 NTA If he said don't be petty and keep work stuff at work, he KNOWS full well he was the jerk. You don't owe him any favors.
    via mcindy28
  • PrincessBella1 NTJ. Covering his shift classifies as work stuff. Never help anyone who throws you under the bus. Enjoy your weekend off.
    via PrincessBella1
  • lammine4420 You're good. Let that jerk-off bone themselves.
    via lammine4420
  • RubyTx Throwing you under the bus to your boss is quite literally "work stuff". NTJ.
    via RubyTx
  • Sapphic-Curls NTJ, he should be dead to you now, trust broken he is on his own. Worry about you now at work and that's it.
    via Sapphic-Curls
  • Sensual36Lady he's got a lot of nerve calling u petty. u aren't holding a grudge, u're just learning from experience. don't let ur coworkers pressure u into being a doormat
    via Sensual36Lady
  • Odd_Tea4945 NTJ Actually, you 're exactly following "work stuff should stay at work." Why would you cover him at work, when he threw you under the bus at work?
    via Odd_Tea4945
  • Content-Car6395 Do that which is best for you. If you want the extra money work the shift. Otherwise think about the future, would he cover for you. ?
    via Content-Car6395

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Tags

employee meeting work coworkers workplace weekend it support entitled people
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