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Woman Faces Consequences For Her “Mistakes”, Finds Out The IT Guy Was Planting Them On Purpose
Finding good colleagues is like hitting the jackpot—having someone who’s got your back at work can make the 9-to-5 grind so much better. But let’s be real; not everyone’s that lucky. Sometimes, you end up with a colleague who makes your life way harder than it needs to be, and suddenly, work feels like a never-ending nightmare.
For example, a woman shared her shocking story of how she spent 10 years dealing with workplace setbacks, only to discover it was all due to sabotage by an IT colleague. This colleague had been secretly altering her work, leading to missed promotions, financial losses, and immense emotional stress. Keep reading to uncover her story and explore the steps she’s considering to seek justice.
RELATED:
A bad coworker can truly make life unbearable, turning what should be a productive workplace into a source of constant stress and frustration
Image credits: Resume Genius / Unsplash (not the actual photo)
A woman shared how her professional growth was stalled for over a decade due to a former coworker secretly altering her work
Image credits: Daniel Martinez / Unsplash (not the actual photo)
Image credits: Altruistic-Face-9782
Image credits: Vlada Karpovich / Pexels (not the actual photo)
Difficult coworkers can make going to the office feel like a daily struggle
Navigating the workplace can feel like a rollercoaster, especially when you’re seated next to a colleague who seems to have missed the memo on teamwork. The impact of such toxic coworkers isn’t just about occasional eye rolls; it can seriously affect your well-being and productivity.
A study by the American Psychological Association found that 19% of workers describe their workplace as very or somewhat toxic. Those in such environments are more than three times as likely to experience harm to their mental health compared to those in healthier workplaces.
Negative attitudes in the workplace don’t just affect the direct targets—they can spread like wildfire, dragging down team morale and productivity. A disgruntled employee’s behavior can influence their colleagues, creating an atmosphere where even the most enthusiastic workers dread coming to the office. Navigating these tricky situations can feel overwhelming, but there are ways to manage them effectively.
The first step is to stay calm and professional, even when faced with provocation. Maintaining your composure ensures you don’t escalate the issue and allows you to handle the situation with dignity and respect.
Another essential strategy is to set clear boundaries. Politely but firmly communicating acceptable behavior can help prevent misunderstandings and establish a healthier dynamic. If the situation worsens, don’t hesitate to seek support from HR or management. They are there to help mediate and resolve conflicts in the workplace.
Image credits: Buro Millennial / Pexels (not the actual photo)
A supportive colleague can make all the difference, turning challenges into manageable tasks and workdays into enjoyable experiences
Having supportive colleagues, on the other hand, comes with several benefits. They can enhance collaboration, as teamwork truly makes the dream work. Working with cooperative and helpful people can make even the toughest tasks feel manageable.
Supportive coworkers also increase job satisfaction. When you enjoy the company of those around you, your workday becomes more enjoyable and fulfilling. Additionally, they provide emotional support, offering a listening ear when you need to vent or share a laugh, which can be incredibly therapeutic in a high-stress environment.
In contrast, toxic colleagues can have significant downsides. One major drawback is decreased productivity. Constant negativity and disruptive behavior can make it difficult to focus and get work done effectively. Toxic coworkers can also strain your mental health, leading to stress, anxiety, and even burnout.
In this particular incident, the author wasn’t even aware they were being sabotaged by a coworker for years, which makes the situation even more challenging to address. When dealing with such covert and harmful behavior, gathering evidence and documenting any suspicious activities is crucial to present a clear case to HR or management.
Transparency and accountability are key to resolving such issues. How would you handle a coworker like this? Have you ever faced something similar? Share your thoughts and strategies below!
People online suggested that the woman consult an employment lawyer as she shared more details about her situation
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What do you think ?
Bowtechie 1 week ago (edited)
This is why women choose the bear. This dude's ego is so fragile he assaults one woman and ruins the career of another just because she said "no".
CanadianDimes 1 week ago
I'd like to know what the people who answered 'let it go and move on' in the poll are smoking. This was 10 years of deliberate harassment to the point where her health was at stake, her professional reputation was damaged, and she suffered financially for his actions. Her company needs to make more amends than it has, and she should absolutely find out what her rights are. Letting it go means she's still being penalized financially (not getting the money back) and that she has to put more work into rebuilding her reputation than she should have to.
Amused panda 5 days ago
Whilst let it go wouldn't be my choice - and it isn't just the financial loss of travel costs, but the loss of opportunity for advancement and not receiving any bump in salary from promotion - I'd imagine some people might take the view 'this git has messed with my life for too long, I don't want pursuing what will likely be fruitless attempts for action to interfere with my future' or simply 'I want to forgot I ever knew him because he isn't worthy of my thoughts'.
Load More Replies...
Bookworm 1 week ago
I don't know about the UK, but I suspect in the U.S, you'd win a civil judgement based on the fact that this IT guy, who was apparently completely unstable (I cannot imagine that the screaming/assault incident that got him fired was the first-ever evidence of his issues), had complete access to everyone's data, and no one in the last 10 years had checked what he was doing with that access.
Just_for_this 6 days ago
First rule of a managed device, someone else ALWAYS has access to your stuff. Second rule is keep your own "receipts" if you get my meaning, BCC emails etc. In a small business of 30 ish people it's likely he was the only (or at least the senior after 10 years) IT guy. It's hard enough getting businesses to spend money on a new PC let along an independent IT specialist to audit its running. much easier to believe the woman was IT literate.
Load More Replies...
Abraxas59 6 days ago
This is a horrible thing to read I’m so so sorry for you op and you can’t let this go from the sounds of things this could have ended far far worse I am in the uk and we do take harassment stalking bullying etc seriously but I think this goes further than that makes no odds if he’s left uk ( one has to wonder why ! ) report it to the police you couldn’t before as u had no clue well now you do and proof the police can if needed find him as your firm will have to give them his full name dob n other details this is not a let it go thing far from and as others have said u likely was t the only one being targeted he’s a dangerous man very very dangerous In all fair ness this could have ended in you taking your own life he messed u up so much you didn’t know which way was up a truly awful thought but this inhuman was not gonna let up clearly it’s only cos he got fired he did Also check your lines of credit change all passwords assume he has got access to your life ! Not ott but protecting
Karen Philpott 6 days ago
OP, should you read this, Canada, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand All have extradition agreements with the UK. Get a really good international law lawyer, get the Police involved and get the slimy bastard. Before more women get treated like you and your colleague were treated. Also pursue damages and apologies from your employer. Also get them to repay the travel expenses and any other expenses above what you would've paid for your normal working life before he stuffed it up. Good luck.
Harry Verner 5 days ago
No1 is getting extradited for this. Its not cheap
Load More Replies...
Bookworm 6 days ago
This is a question for a lawyer versed in international law for Bob. I'd also look into whether the company can be held liable for any part of this. They gave him the access and, apparently, had no one watching him. I mean a new hire figured out what he was doing after two weeks. If Bob had been properly supervised then the supervisor would have caught it.
Thanos'Fingers 6 days ago
Are you real? Before you answer, know that I don't believe you, robot.
Load More Replies...
Thanos'Fingers 6 days ago
That's a pretty lousy hitman if he just sits around waiting in case Bob happens to show up. I paid you, get off your a*s and go find him!
Load More Replies...
Kathy Kennedy 5 days ago
Sounds like the new IT guy could find the evidence so easily because the firing was sudden with no reentry of the facility. The old IT guy was so comfortable committing his garbage of a decade, right under the eyes of those who should have been watching, that he'd felt no reason to hide his wrong doings on a normal basis - it was all there in plain sight, in probably more than one way for the new guy to plainly see. The guy may have even had a 'trophy list' detailing the things he'd done to you and others over time.
Thanos'Fingers 6 days ago
Am I the only one wondering how this could go on so consistently as to be noticed by management over the course of a decade, and OP had no suspicions of foul play? After the third "mishap", I feel I am confident enough in my recall that I would claim shenanigans. And I'm not the type to make a simple spreadsheet and take a photo, I'm the type to spend a few hours building a dense enough file to cause a stack overflow and crash the IT server and any connected machine when it's opened. Hide executables in random desktop files that load porn malware to every machine when opened. Sneak into the server room and change the routing for the boss and my computer, so IT is screwing with bosses vacation.
Bowtechie 1 week ago (edited)
This is why women choose the bear. This dude's ego is so fragile he assaults one woman and ruins the career of another just because she said "no".
CanadianDimes 1 week ago
I'd like to know what the people who answered 'let it go and move on' in the poll are smoking. This was 10 years of deliberate harassment to the point where her health was at stake, her professional reputation was damaged, and she suffered financially for his actions. Her company needs to make more amends than it has, and she should absolutely find out what her rights are. Letting it go means she's still being penalized financially (not getting the money back) and that she has to put more work into rebuilding her reputation than she should have to.
Amused panda 5 days ago
Whilst let it go wouldn't be my choice - and it isn't just the financial loss of travel costs, but the loss of opportunity for advancement and not receiving any bump in salary from promotion - I'd imagine some people might take the view 'this git has messed with my life for too long, I don't want pursuing what will likely be fruitless attempts for action to interfere with my future' or simply 'I want to forgot I ever knew him because he isn't worthy of my thoughts'.
Load More Replies... Bookworm 1 week ago
I don't know about the UK, but I suspect in the U.S, you'd win a civil judgement based on the fact that this IT guy, who was apparently completely unstable (I cannot imagine that the screaming/assault incident that got him fired was the first-ever evidence of his issues), had complete access to everyone's data, and no one in the last 10 years had checked what he was doing with that access.
Just_for_this 6 days ago
First rule of a managed device, someone else ALWAYS has access to your stuff. Second rule is keep your own "receipts" if you get my meaning, BCC emails etc. In a small business of 30 ish people it's likely he was the only (or at least the senior after 10 years) IT guy. It's hard enough getting businesses to spend money on a new PC let along an independent IT specialist to audit its running. much easier to believe the woman was IT literate.
Load More Replies... Abraxas59 6 days ago
This is a horrible thing to read I’m so so sorry for you op and you can’t let this go from the sounds of things this could have ended far far worse I am in the uk and we do take harassment stalking bullying etc seriously but I think this goes further than that makes no odds if he’s left uk ( one has to wonder why ! ) report it to the police you couldn’t before as u had no clue well now you do and proof the police can if needed find him as your firm will have to give them his full name dob n other details this is not a let it go thing far from and as others have said u likely was t the only one being targeted he’s a dangerous man very very dangerous In all fair ness this could have ended in you taking your own life he messed u up so much you didn’t know which way was up a truly awful thought but this inhuman was not gonna let up clearly it’s only cos he got fired he did Also check your lines of credit change all passwords assume he has got access to your life ! Not ott but protecting
Karen Philpott 6 days ago
OP, should you read this, Canada, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand All have extradition agreements with the UK. Get a really good international law lawyer, get the Police involved and get the slimy bastard. Before more women get treated like you and your colleague were treated. Also pursue damages and apologies from your employer. Also get them to repay the travel expenses and any other expenses above what you would've paid for your normal working life before he stuffed it up. Good luck.
Harry Verner 5 days ago
No1 is getting extradited for this. Its not cheap
Load More Replies... Bookworm 6 days ago
This is a question for a lawyer versed in international law for Bob. I'd also look into whether the company can be held liable for any part of this. They gave him the access and, apparently, had no one watching him. I mean a new hire figured out what he was doing after two weeks. If Bob had been properly supervised then the supervisor would have caught it.
Thanos'Fingers 6 days ago
Are you real? Before you answer, know that I don't believe you, robot.
Load More Replies... Thanos'Fingers 6 days ago
That's a pretty lousy hitman if he just sits around waiting in case Bob happens to show up. I paid you, get off your a*s and go find him!
Load More Replies... Kathy Kennedy 5 days ago
Sounds like the new IT guy could find the evidence so easily because the firing was sudden with no reentry of the facility. The old IT guy was so comfortable committing his garbage of a decade, right under the eyes of those who should have been watching, that he'd felt no reason to hide his wrong doings on a normal basis - it was all there in plain sight, in probably more than one way for the new guy to plainly see. The guy may have even had a 'trophy list' detailing the things he'd done to you and others over time.
Thanos'Fingers 6 days ago
Am I the only one wondering how this could go on so consistently as to be noticed by management over the course of a decade, and OP had no suspicions of foul play? After the third "mishap", I feel I am confident enough in my recall that I would claim shenanigans. And I'm not the type to make a simple spreadsheet and take a photo, I'm the type to spend a few hours building a dense enough file to cause a stack overflow and crash the IT server and any connected machine when it's opened. Hide executables in random desktop files that load porn malware to every machine when opened. Sneak into the server room and change the routing for the boss and my computer, so IT is screwing with bosses vacation.
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