Has a colleague been claiming credit for your hard work? Or taking all your good ideas and presenting them as his own?
More than one-fourth of employees have had to deal with an office bandit--a workplace pest who takes credit for your work. But less than half of bandit victims do something about it, according to a survey by OfficeTeam, a staffing service.
"Today's workplace is more competitive than ever, and unfortunately there are people who will go to these kinds of lengths to make themselves look good or get promoted," says Robert Hosking, OfficeTeam's executive director.
To protect your reputation and career, read expert advice on how to handle three common types of bandits:
1. The Accidental Bandit
These bandits are often unaware that they've stolen an idea. In work environments where brainstorming is common and group meetings are routine, the source of an original idea isn't always clear. And when you're working on group projects, getting your individual contributions noted can be difficult.
Expert Advice
"Providing management with regular updates and candidly discussing projects and the milestones achieved can help build a more productive working environment with little room for misunderstandings," says Janet Flewelling, director of HR operations for Administaff.
If you think someone is taking credit for your work, "don't jump to conclusions before hearing the other person out," says Laurent Duperval, of Duperval Consulting. "Deal with observed behavior only."
2. The "Helper" Bandit
These bandits seem innocent, asking for your help or offering theirs, but really they're looking to take your work and run with it. While you work with a Helper behind the scenes, she moves forward, taking full credit for your contributions.
Expert Advice
If a colleague submits your work as her own, "send an email to the boss asking for feedback on the work you did," suggests Blaine Loomer, an author with more than 20 years of experience in corporate management and sales. Asking for a critique on your work will alert the boss that you were involved with a project but doesn't require that you "tattle."
"Call [the person's] attention to it and ask him to please refrain from doing it again in the future," says Donna Flagg, the author of "Surviving Dreaded Conversations." This may seem too bold, but it's an effective approach: "Once it is brought to light, it is virtually impossible for the person to continue."
3. The Criminal Bandit
This is the most extreme of the bandit types. The criminal may log on to your computer after hours, rifle through your desk, or pretend to be your project partner while claiming credit for your work and ideas, says Linnda Durre, the author of "Surviving the Toxic Workplace."
Expert Advice
If you have evidence of illegal acts like computer hacking, report it directly to your boss and to HR.
Do not share information with this person. "Make sure you don't explain ideas unless there is an audience to hear you out," advises Duperval.
If your job security is being threatened by career bandits, you need to defend yourself. You can also secure your position through more education. Take a free education test to see how more education can help your career. And get help sorting through degree program options with a college and university search.
Take LiveCareer's free Online Career Test to find the best career for your interests and work personality.
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