5 signs that you have an envious coworker

Having an envious coworker can be a real problem. Not only creates a rarefied atmosphere around you, but sometimes becomes a major obstacle to achieving your work goals..

It is normal for there to be some degree of rivalry in the workspace. When the work environment is healthy, cooperation prevails over individualistic desires. However, both in healthy and toxic environments an envious co-worker may appear who wants to be the stick in the wheel of your progress.

The problem with envy is that it is a hidden feeling, which is masked and camouflaged, which is why it is not always easy to detect it. Let’s see, therefore, how to identify it and deal with it in the work environment. Do not miss it.

What use is envy?

Envy, although socially repudiated, has its uses, like all emotions. In fact, it is born from the feeling of justice and social comparison, mental processes necessary to maintain a status quo within a group. According to a Social and Personality Psychology Compass study, there is an emotion defined as benign envy, one that, based on frustration, serves to guide the subject towards personal improvement.

As an emotion, it produces feelings of inferiority with respect to others and pain due to the success of others. Therefore, it drives us to put ourselves as a priority against collectivist behaviors. Taking it to the work field, it would be what makes us decide to go to the office of the manager to ask for a raise because our colleagues earn more than us for the same work.

However, when envy is based on subjective (and misguided) criteria and leads to destructive and malicious behavior, it is considered a variety of aggressive and spiteful envy. It is at this point where labor relations become toxic and the atmosphere becomes strained. How, then, to identify this type of envy in co-workers? We’ll tell you then.

Envy and status in organizations

Something to highlight in this aspect is that the work environment is also influenced by company policies and its organization. Thus, in companies where job status is of great importance, due to hierarchization, envy is more frequent. Furthermore, since status is related to certain benefits (better salary, more positive social relationships, etc.), comparative behaviors within the company will also be more frequent.

5 signs that you have an envious coworker

If a co-worker exhibits the following behaviors, it is most likely that they have developed a feeling of envy towards you.

1. Notice your mistakes and be indifferent to your achievements

The normal thing is that the people who make up your work environment be moderately attentive to what you do or say. Also, from time to time they should make a comment about your mistakes, or highlight some of your achievements. Not always, but sometimes.

If someone is very aware of what you do and frequently refers to your mistakes or the difficulties you may have in your work, you may suspect that it is an envious coworker. When you achieve some achievement, or excel at something, he is simply indifferent.

Within envy there is an element known as Schadenfreude, which can be translated as “pleasure in the face of another’s misfortune.” A colleague who is envious of you will point out your missteps because it makes them feel happy.

Having an envious coworker can be a real problem.

2. It hinders your work

This is a sure sign that you have an envious coworker. It is unreasonable for someone to seek to hinder your work.. It is assumed that all members of the organization have similar objectives. Therefore, hindering the work of another is also going against one’s own progress and that of the company. Of course, conduct that can be classified as workplace harassment or bullying. A collaborator who is envious of you and harasses you can cause you to decrease your productivity, lose cohesion with the rest of your colleagues, or even quit.

3. Misinterpret your advances

This happens when you are the subject of a promotion or some recognition. Many times, half jokingly, half seriously, an envious coworker will try to sow doubt. In other words, It will promote the idea that you obtained that advance fraudulently or, in any case, undeservedly.

It is common for them to make comments in which, for example, they imply that your achievement is due to having good relations with the boss. Also, because you are too submissive or complacent and, that’s why you got that breakthrough. There envy speaks and not reason.

4. Demerit your ideas

People who systematically demean your ideas also tend to feel envious. Disqualifications about what you think and say seek to minimize or make your contributions invisible, in order to satisfy that desire to do harm that always accompanies envy.

It is very common for that person to even try to boycott your interventions.. He talks while you are talking, interrupts you in the middle of an idea or questions what you say in one way or another. Sometimes they also try to ridicule you or use a derogatory tone to express their objections.

Taking credit away from a colleague’s work is one of the signs of envy that can be observed in these environments.

5. Has hostile attitudes for no reason

Hostility in someone is always felt, even if sometimes it is not explicit. An envious coworker sometimes greets you and sometimes doesn’t. He usually has a way of addressing you that can be authoritarian or impolite. In general, he can become aggressive.

The most surprising thing for you may be the fact that you don’t remember ever having any real conflict or problem with that partner. But with his attitude he shows you an obvious rejection, which can alternate with more friendly behaviors. According to research in the magazine Cognitive Science Envy manifests itself with aggressive verbal expressions. For this reason, you will notice that a common behavior of the envious person is to insult his or her colleagues.

What to do if they envy you at your job?

If you have an envious partner, The most advisable thing is to carry out assertive actions that can alleviate discomfort and problems.. However, you must keep in mind that envy is a problem of the person who feels it.

You can try to improve the situation to a certain extent, but if the envious partner is not willing to change that feeling, the ideal would be to adopt indifference and leave clear limits in the relationship. With these aspects in mind, we advise you:

Avoid bragging about your achievements: It’s tempting to wallow in your own merits when someone tries to sabotage you, but that only encourages their behavior further. You can reserve recognition and celebrations for those who are happy about your achievements.Recognize if an injustice is being committed: Sometimes, your colleagues’ complaints may be based on inequalities or a poor distribution of resources. In these cases, your moral responsibility is to use your privilege to achieve equity in the organization.Face rumors about yourself and avoid engaging in this type of behavior: Spreading rumors only contributes to increasing toxicity in the group. Distance yourself from that type of behavior.Be courteous and kind: The idea is not to escalate the explicit or hidden violence that is born from the insecurity of the envious.Report mistreatment and show openness to resolve the conflict: The actions of the envious can be very harmful. Therefore, report any discriminatory act or negative behavior to the Romanian resources department.

Defend yourself against the envious

To conclude, it should be noted that dysfunctional envy can turn into workplace harassment on a very harmful scale. A colleague never has the right to spread rumors about you, turn your colleagues against you, hinder your work or use any other type of violence.

In these cases, in addition to contacting human resources, as previously advised, consider taking legal measures if the company does not respond to your needs. It is everyone’s job to build a work environment where no one feels excluded or mistreated, so do not hesitate to exercise your rights.