AITA for refusing to help my coworker with her project after she took credit for mine?

A Redditor shared a workplace conflict involving a coworker who took credit for their hard work on a major project. After confronting the coworker and receiving a dismissive response, the Redditor is now refusing to help the same coworker with another project, despite pressure from their team and friends. Read the full story below to see if they were justified in standing their ground.

‘ AITA for refusing to help my coworker with her project after she took credit for mine?’

I (30F) work in a team of five at a marketing company, and we’ve been working on a big project for the past few weeks. I’ve been putting in a lot of extra hours, staying late, and really pushing myself to get things done on time. My coworker, Rachel (28F), is part of the team, but she’s been a little… disengaged.

She’s been missing meetings, showing up late, and not really contributing much to the work. I’ve tried to help her get caught up and offered to work together, but she always seems too busy or distracted. Last week, we were finalizing the project and I sent over my section for review.

When it came time for the presentation to the higher-ups, I found out that Rachel had basically copied my work and presented it as her own. She didn’t even acknowledge that I helped her or that the work was mine. I was pretty livid but didn’t say anything during the meeting, trying to keep it professional. Afterward, I confronted her about it and she played it off like it was no big deal.

She said she was just “too busy” and didn’t have time to work on her part, so she “used mine as a reference.” I told her that it wasn’t a “reference”—it was my actual work, and she took credit for it. Now she’s asking me to help her with her next part of the project, but I’m really upset and don’t feel like I should. I’ve worked hard, and I feel like she’s trying to take advantage of me.

Our boss has noticed she’s been slacking lately and is counting on me to help, but I just don’t think I can support someone who has already taken advantage of me like this. I’m getting a lot of pressure from the team and even some friends to just let it go, but I’m standing firm on not helping her. AITAH for refusing to help her after what she did?

These are the responses from Reddit users:

Traditional-Day1140 −  You need to talk to your boss about her taking credit for you work and explain that you aren’t comfortable with putting in that amount of work for her to steal it. She needs to step up and do her own work.

MoonlitPixie47 −  I’ve always tried to be a team player and help others, but I feel like Rachel is taking advantage of me. I don’t think I should be expected to help someone who didn’t do their part and took credit for my work. I’m just trying to protect my own contributions and not let her walk all over me.

Altruistic-Staff-159 −  You should talk to your boss about the situation. It’s your boss’s job to manage how work is spread amongst the team. Maybe you should ask to be part of the presentation if you work on the project, that way you will both get credit. Also, when the project is done, send an email to your boss with the total number of hours spent on the project.

GroovyYaYa −  You need to gather any and all CYA proof you have (cover your ass). Document, even in a calendar or just a simple Word document (or equivalent) of conversations you remember.. Like

2024/12/08 – Rachel admitted she used my work and was “not a big deal” when I expressed how uncomfortable I was that she did not give me credit for the work. Stated she had been “too busy”to do her own work.

Go over your calendar and try to mark what meetings she missed. THEN go to your boss with the organized documentation. KEEP COPIES. Blind copy yourself to an outside email address any correspondence you have with Rachel and or HR.

BlueGreen_1956 −  NTA. Tell Rachel to go jump.. Once bitten, twice shy.

_gadget_girl −  Let your boss know why you are hesitant. Bring in proof. Going forward keep copies of your work, cc your boss when corresponding with Rachel. Tell your boss that you want to help and be a team player, but you draw the line at being used and taken advantage of. Let him know you are 100% willing to help getting the project completed as long as the two of you can figure out a way to make sure that Rachel can’t poach your work.

Ok_Resource_8530 −  If the boss has already noticed she is slacking, now is the time to tell the boss you will be more than happy to help her AGAIN, but this time you would like credit for your work. When he acts surprised, DO NOT THROW HER UNDER THE BUS EXACTLY,

but tell him with the first part she was o**rwhelmed with all the work and didn’t have time, so she took what you had done and presented it as hers. Now you know she probably didn’t have the time to add your name to the work, but you worked hard and would have liked a little acknowledgement. She gets exactly what she deserves.

ShitHouses −  #Fake Ai story. none of the stories here are real. This sub has been taken over by Ai.

BecGeoMom −  I don’t know how this will play out for you, but the next time she steals your work, when she starts to present, jump up and say, “Oh, I didn’t realize we were doing my part now! I’m ready. I’ll take over from here.” And then present your work. In fact, maybe you should just do her part of the project, but don’t help her, just do it. Then present it as your work. Because it is.

chaingun_samurai −  If she can’t do her job, she shouldn’t be there.

Do you think the Redditor was justified in refusing to help their coworker after the breach of trust, or should they have taken the high road to maintain teamwork? How would you handle this kind of workplace betrayal? Share your thoughts below!