Beware of Backstabbing Coworkers

Ever suspect that one of your co-workers is trying to sabotage you? It very well could be the case. Most people will likely have to deal with backstabbing coworkers at some point. Unfortunately, workplace sabotage is fairly common.

Almost everyone—especially in competitive fields—feels some pressure to get ahead at work, but some people go overboard and seek to deliberately harm their peers. In fact, almost one-third (31%) of advertising and marketing executives surveyed said a colleague has tried to make them look bad on the job.

Backstabbers at work come in several types, including:

• Belittlers, who hurl put-downs, demeaning remarks and disparaging comments.
• Credit thieves, who steal your ideas and grab the glory when a project is successful.
• Finger pointers, who pin the blame on others when the project goes wrong.
• Rumor mongers, stirring up drama by spreading gossip, lies and half-truths that destroy reputations.
• Slackers, who shirk responsibility and foist duties onto others.
• Scorched-earth managers, who will undermine or even fire a smart, capable worker when they feel threatened by brains and talent.

The question is how should you deal with a co-worker who double-crosses you? Read on to understand the motivations of these conspirators, and how you can beat them at their own game.

What Do Backstabbers at Work Hope to Gain?

First things first: It could be possible that some workplace weasels may simply be unaware of how their actions are negatively affecting others. More likely, backstabbing co-workers are probably just thinking of themselves.

By slagging their coworkers, a backstabber may feel that they're making themselves look good by comparison. These people likely feel insecure about their own status or performance and try to remedy that by pointing to their co-workers' shortfalls.

In fact, some backstabbers at work might believe that they're simply doing what it takes to get ahead. In other words, they are protecting their own interests.

In some cases, the employee might even have been a past victim of backstabbing in the workplace and became more cutthroat as a result.

How to Respond to Backstabbing Coworkers

The first thing you need to do is figure out if you actually are the victim of workplace sabotage, and if so, who is behind it. Identifying a saboteur can be harder than it looks because many of their actions are subtle.

Some telltale signs could be if a co-worker tries to bait you into gossiping about another staffer, or if someone else is getting all the kudos for work that you have done. Or perhaps you are called out for a mistake that no one else knew about—except the one person who you confided in.

Once your suspicions are confirmed, here are a couple of ways you can handle backstabbing in the workplace:

Have a talk with the person. By no means should you corner the suspect by the water cooler and start an angry confrontation, but giving your colleague a chance to explain their actions may sometimes help resolve the problem.

In general, never react in the heat of the moment. Take some time to look at the situation from every angle, and once you're calm, ask the person if you can speak in private, face-to-face, and tell them how what they did made you feel.

As for what to say, maintain a professional tone throughout the conversation, and cite evidence of your suspicion. Say something like, “When we discussed our opinions about our boss over happy hour last week, we agreed the conversation was confidential. I was just approached by our boss and he clearly knew of our conversation.”

Be prepared for the backstabber to try to cover their tracks as you confront them, but don't back down. If a backstabber knows they can't get away with this behavior with you, they'll often move on.

If the two of you can't work it out or the situation escalates, alert your manager or human resources department to help solve the issue.

Escalate the issue. Is there ever a time when it makes more sense to skip the confrontation with the backstabber and go straight to the boss? That's complicated. The last thing you want is to be perceived as jealous, difficult to work with, or a tattletale. How would the situation may look from your manager's viewpoint?

A good rule of thumb when deciding if you should go talk to your manager is whether there is a business impact, such as if a project deadline wasn't completed (and the blame was put on you). It's easier to make a compelling case if the offender's end result has a negative impact on a business outcome.

Ignore it. If someone's actions have irked you on a personal level but didn't have a negative effect on your job, consider taking the high road, and even try setting a better example.

Don't play into the toxicity of an intensely competitive workplace. Instead, praise others' work, communicate openly with your colleagues, and be supportive of your co-workers' ideas and accomplishments.

Ways to Thwart Workplace Sabotage in the Future

The best way to deal with an office traitor moving forward is to avoid them as much as possible—and cover your tracks. Here are some strategies:

Maintain a paper trail. If you suspect may be backstabbing, keep a record of decisions made, work deadlines, and anything else they may attempt to use against you. So if a conversation about a project takes place, follow up with a brief email to the person and outline what was decided so that nothing can be denied later.

Send your manager updates. If someone is trying to take credit for your work, giving your manager frequent project updates where possible, so they know who is responsible for each task, will make it more difficult for a sneaky coworker to steal your spotlight.

Avoid gossip. Often backstabbers will fuel the gossip mill with opinions you may have shared in confidence. Remember, nothing is off the record to a potential backstabber. Keep mum, especially regarding your opinions about others in the organization.

Be aware, even in casual settings. You need to be extra vigilant if you suspect there to be a backstabber in your midst, especially during times when you might otherwise be relaxed, like lunchtime, happy hour, or even casual hallway conversations. Backstabbers will take in whatever you reveal in these intimate moments to use against you.

You can't necessarily stop backstabbing from taking place in your workplace, but knowing how to recognize and overcome it is an important skill set to develop. Being able to deal with challenging or difficult coworkers while maintaining healthy working relationships is necessary for career success.

Continue Outsmarting Backstabbers at Work

These offenders can butcher your confidence, but only if you let them. Knowing how to navigate the occasionally rocky waters of the workplace isn't the kind of wisdom you're born with. It takes experience—but there are other ways you can learn practical ways to avoid job drama. Could you use more tips? Monster can send you free career advice to help you steer your path in a positive direction.