Career✓ Follow-up at 6 weeks2,670 views
My coworker keeps taking credit for my work
A workplace credit protection plan using documentation, visibility strategies, and professional communication to ensure your work is properly attributed.
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Follow-Up Result
6 weeks laterDocumented contributions and manager now recognizes individual work clearly
The Problem
I've been working on a major project for three months and my coworker presented it to leadership as "our" work — except they barely contributed. This isn't the first time. They volunteer to present, use "we" language for things I did alone, and somehow always end up looking like the star. I'm furious but I don't want to seem petty or like I can't work on a team. My manager doesn't seem to notice.
The Plan
Week 1-2: Document Everything
Start a work log: date, task, what you did, any emails or messages that prove your contribution
Send summary emails after completing work: "Hi [manager], just wanted to update you — I finished the analysis on X today. Key findings attached"
CC your manager on important deliverables — create a paper trail of your contributions
In meetings, use "I" language for your work: "I completed the analysis" not "the analysis was completed"
Don't badmouth your coworker — focus on making your contributions visible, not on tearing theirs down
Week 3-4: Address It Directly
Talk to your coworker privately: "I noticed in the presentation you said 'we' for the analysis section — I'd appreciate if my individual contributions were acknowledged"
If it continues, talk to your manager: "I want to make sure my contributions are visible. Here's what I've been working on specifically"
Volunteer to present your own work — don't let someone else be the face of your effort
Request regular 1:1s with your manager where you review YOUR accomplishments
If the culture rewards self-promotion, learn to do it professionally — it's not bragging, it's visibility
Resources
"Crucial Conversations" — techniques for addressing workplace issues directly
"Nice Girls Don't Get the Corner Office" by Lois Frankel — visibility strategies for the workplace
r/careerguidance — community advice on workplace dynamics
Your HR department — if the behavior continues despite direct conversation
Follow-Up Result
6 weeks in: I started sending weekly update emails to my manager summarizing my individual contributions. Within two weeks, my manager started referencing my specific work in team meetings. I had the direct conversation with my coworker — they were defensive at first but the credit-taking stopped after I made it clear I was tracking my contributions. I volunteered to present the next project update myself and got great feedback from leadership. The biggest lesson: visibility is your responsibility. Don't assume people notice your work — make sure they see it.Know someone with this problem?
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