Have you ever wanted to see a coworker fail?

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Specializes in Rehab/Nurse Manager.
Have you ever wanted to see a coworker fail?

Anyone ever have one of those coworkers that irk you to the point that you'd like to see them fail?

I normally don't feel that way, but lately I've been harboring a lot of resentment for one of my coworkers. This person is very cruel, and yet our former workplace absolutely loves her. This lady often told me that if I can't do my job, don't do it. She often talked about how great she was. She would frequently mention that she's worked so hard to develop processes and the rest of us are just "messing things up."  She believes and acts as if she's God's gift to the world and often has nothing but snide, sarcastic remarks for others.

I would love for her to receive a taste of her own medicine. I would love for her to make a big mistake. Not one that harms a patient, but one that makes her realize she is no angel and she's not perfect. In addition to being cruel, she is demanding and expects everyone to accommodate her schedule. It's okay for her to show up late or leave work early, but if someone else does the same thing, you'd better watch out because she'll let you know what she thinks.  

Frankly, I resent that she's able to get away with so much b-crap and remain employed. She doesn't deserve her job. I'd love for her to mess up so that she ends up jobless.

Who else has felt this way about a coworker?

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I pay these people as little attention as possible. And I refuse to react to them.

She sounds miserable and life's too short for that. And it's definitely to short to waste time resenting someone who is so miserable. Make no mistake, she doesn't feel good about herself.

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Specializes in New Critical care NP, Critical care, Med-surg, LTC.

No. Letting someone else take up that much real estate in my head has no positive impact on my life. I do my best at my job, and try to let comments from jerks just roll off because they're a reflection of the person making them, not me. 

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).

Edgar Cayce said, "You can get no one in more trouble than they can get themselves into", whose philosophy  I endeavored to follow. Karmic Comeupins, "as ye sow, so shall ye reap" has proven itself many times in my personal and professional life.

And, not just so with others, for I, too have had to taste the bitter fruit of Instant Karma.

I won't bore anyone with the particulars, but I have enjoyed seeing others get their just desserts, and I have had to eat some humble pie, do some real soul-searching, and make amends to others whenever possible  for the discomfort and pain for which I was responsible.

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Specializes in Rehab/Nurse Manager.

I just don't understand why they want to keep someone like her around while losing other good employees 

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Specializes in Rehab/Nurse Manager.

One of those instances where it is obvious that life favors some people more than others,  For some reason, she has found favor not only with the facility, but life in general.   She knows how good she is.   She knows how superior she is.  She knows she can do what she wants, when she wants, because things will work out favorably for her, both in her professional and personal lives.   She has intelligence and skills that far exceed those of most people and uses that to her advantage.   By being extremely "competent,” she has earned the right to be arrogant, demanding, cocky, demeaning and to be able to work wherever she wants, whenever she wants.   She is the facility's Beloved Queen Bee.   No one can do things as well as the Queen Bee, as no one can ever achieve the level of perfection that she has.  And that is likely why she is allowed to continue to work there.  

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Specializes in Rehab/Nurse Manager.

The best day of my life will be when I see that the Queen Bee is no longer employed at this company.   I fear this day may never come. 

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Specializes in Mental Health, Gerontology, Palliative.

Not so much fail because thats means they have screwed up royally and put paitents at risk/harmed patients

I want them to go a long way away from me. 

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Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.

Karma's a b. but she works in her own time.  Every place I've ever worked had a golden child who wasn't so golden.  Annoying as hell but all you need to do is smile to yourself while you play a long game.

Don't waste any more emotional energy waiting for something bad to happen to her.  That just creates negative karma for you.

Just go about your business and let nature take its course.

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Specializes in School Nursing.

I wouldn't waste my energy on them. I have too much to do myself than to worry about a person that is just miserable, and has such poor self esteem that she has to downgrade others and brag about herself just to make herself feel good. I actually feel sorry for her.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Oh Silverbells, when I saw the comment thread I just knew it had to be from you!  I have to say you are still falling into the same trap of the past, comparisons, black and white thinking, distorted thinking of this work rival, frenemy, imagining she has superior, perhaps supernatural powers and abilities.  I remember you making similar comments about other people you felt were rivals or threats in the past.

It is a good thing you are no longer working there now.  I hope you can let it go for your own peace of mind.  I'm sure she is not perfect.  She may be more popular.  Perhaps she is more outgoing or charismatic I don't know.  But whenever you feel threatened by someone you imagine they are better than you and have no problems of their own and can do everything great.  It isn't reality.

I have seen various cliques come and go, popular girls come and go and the occasional bully.  In all my years, they have simply passed by.  I never imagined they were better than me or that I was less than they were.   One thing that I've read about is that sometimes when people have conflicts at work it can be because that person reminds them of someone that has hurt them in the past and they have unresolved issues with say a mother, father or friend.  Might be something to consider and discuss with your therapist.

Briefly in college I lived with two other girls in an apartment and one I just couldn't get along with.  I found her behavior really disturbing.  I disliked her intensely.  Obviously after we had moved in together.  It was so upsetting I was having nightmares and insomnia.  Finally,  after the lease ended I saw a therapist and realized she had reminded me of my abusive, alcoholic father.  She wasn't abusive to me, of course, but her selfish, arrogant and cold attitude and behavior seemed to subconsciously remind me of him.  Once I realized this and processed it and left the situation by moving out, the nightmares and insomnia stopped and I was at peace.  

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).

Karma dictates that whenever you wish ill on others you turn that negativity back on yourself self. You have given notice so just move on. Stop giving energy to people who don't matter. You wouldn't worry so much about what others think of you if you realized how rarely they did!

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