10 Best Ways To Deal With Jealous Coworkers

Jealousy generally refers to the thoughts or feelings of insecurity, fear, and concern over a relative lack of possessions or safety. Jealousy can consist of one or more emotions such as anger, resentment, inadequacy, helplessness or disgust.

Is there a positive vibe permeating your office or is there even a hint of resentment or Jealousy? In the workplace, jealousy may be a tough and destructive feeling that causes chaos. It’s technically different from envy, since envy is more about desiring what the other person has whereas jealousy typically entails feeling inferior to them.

Why Does Jealousy Occur at Work?

Is there a positive vibe permeating your office or is there even a hint of resentment or Jealousy? In the workplace, jealousy may be a tough and destructive feeling that causes chaos. It’s technically different from envy, since envy is more about desiring what the other person has whereas jealousy typically entails feeling inferior to them. If an employee perceives that another person is receiving special treatment, they may get envious. For instance, envy may develop if a co-worker frequently dines with the management, but no one else on the team does. For example, they can be worried that because of their close connection with the management, the co-worker would get the promotion before them. When an employee believes they are being treated unfairly or that they are dealing with issues that no one else is dealing with, this can also lead to jealousy, which is more closely related to envy. Wages, for example, may be garnished. Employees who have minimal take-home pay as a result of garnishments for unpaid taxes, unpaid child support, or defaulted student loans may feel envious of their co-workers who don’t have to cope with similar financial hardships.
When one employee consistently earns promotions, increases, or more attractive tasks than the other, it might be difficult to avoid jealousy in the workplace. Fortunately, there are various methods to recognize it and address it in order to keep a productive, collaborative, and appropriate work atmosphere.

Be Humble

Encourage your colleagues to maintain their modesty and humility if one person earns promotions or increases before another. Give them motivational feedback to boost their performance at work so they may enjoy the same rewards the other employee did. Remind staff to always act professionally and to celebrate wins with friends and family outside of the workplace rather than sharing them with colleagues who are still competing for a promotion or raise.

Help Others in Learning New Skills

Find strategies to encourage employees as they attain their goals and assist them in improving their performance. They might feel encouraged and supported as a result. Additionally, it can inspire other workers to consistently help and encourage team members, which reduces any sentiments of envy or resentment. Offer to assist them in acquiring any necessary skills, as well as to offer your assistance and counsel. Their ability to learn, develop, and continue to be upbeat about their own job performance and supportive of others’ accomplishment may be aided by your optimistic attitude.

Being Open to Learning and Experimenting

Teaching skills are crucial, but you should also show that you’re open to learning new ones as well. Find out from your team what you can do to lead them better and support them. Encourage teammates to solicit and share recommendations and advice on how to finish certain jobs. This gives everyone the impression that they are treated fairly and that they complement one another well. They may also have a sense of belonging to a team rather than rivalry.

Remind Your Colleagues of Their Skills

If jealous co-workers are leading others to doubt their skill sets, have a private meeting with them to discuss their qualities. Remind them of their strengths and gauge their abilities. Encourage them to unwind by taking a stroll, practicing meditation, or engaging in physical activity if they appear disheartened. This can foster a more upbeat outlook and better prepare them for any unfavourable remarks their co-workers may make about them.

Set-Up a Career Plan

If you assist your colleagues in establishing and concentrating on their own professional objectives, it may be simpler for them to overlook the bad behaviors of envious peers. Establish goals for employees‘ careers and a strategy to help them achieve them. Encourage other team members to jointly plan their futures inside the organization or in their respective industries to expand this planning to the entire team. As a result, you all become more aware of one another’s aspirations and are able to use your collective experience and training to assist others in achieving their goals.

Encourage and Regard Others

Always be upbeat, even in the presence of envious colleagues. When they appear irritated, frustrated, or bewildered, try to think of methods to make problems into good ones. Tell them what you liked about their presentation, for instance, if it earned less praise than another employee’s. To make sure they do well the next time, you may also propose to assist them with prospective tasks. Throughout the workday, try to come up with various methods to be encouraging. Congratulate them when they finish a difficult task and offer assistance with bigger, more time-consuming undertakings. They may develop and cherish a working connection with you and others by providing support and respect, which can help to reduce any sentiments of resentment or jealousy.

Pay Attention to Others

Because they believe they are underachieving or aren’t receiving enough praise from management or team members, some colleagues may feel envious of others. Take the opportunity to ask the employee if they need to talk if you sense them being envious or hostile toward you. This lets them know you’re there to support, listen, and aid them. Additionally, it may help you to comprehend their behavior better. You may encourage them emotionally by providing support, or you can direct them toward the tools they need to succeed.

Be Proud of Other’s Achievements

Mention your colleague in front of others when you see them reaching significant milestones or exceeding remarkable goals. Thank them for their outstanding work efforts through meetings, team emails, or the team’s business communication tool. They experience pride and gratitude for their successes as a result.

Keep your Ground

If you want to cope with envy, you would want to be the complete opposite of how you would like to see others act. Being modest is admirable, but if you take it too far, it won’t help you. It’s simple to go to the opposite extreme, so please don’t claim you don’t deserve it.

Inform your manager and HR

This is the ultimate option left, if nothing works out. Toxicity at work is never beneficial to your employer. Share your opinions on the evolving workplace; it ought to send them running. But be cautious how you do it—direct charges need to be solidly backed up by proof.

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