There’s a fine line between teamwork and taking advantage of your team. Most people want to be helpful, collaborative, and supportive in the workplace—but even the kindest co-workers have limits. When one person begins leaning too heavily on others, that “team player” label quickly shifts to “office burden.”
Whether it’s a result of poor time management, awkward social boundaries, or just plain laziness, asking the wrong favor from a colleague can damage reputations and relationships in subtle but lasting ways.
1. Asking Them To Cover For Your Mistakes
Mistakes happen to everyone, but owning up to them is a vital part of professionalism. Asking someone else to absorb the blame or smooth over an error quietly forces them into an ethical gray zone they didn’t sign up for. This can backfire quickly, especially if the mistake snowballs or is discovered by management. It also undermines trust, as most people don’t want to be dragged into someone else’s poor judgment or avoidable blunders. A reputation for dodging responsibility will always follow someone longer than a single honest admission ever would.
2. Asking Them To Finish Your Work
Deadlines and workloads can be stressful, but asking co-workers to complete tasks that are clearly your responsibility sends the wrong message. It suggests that someone else’s time is less valuable than yours, which can breed quiet resentment and disengagement. It also disrupts workflows, since colleagues likely have their own deliverables and expectations to meet. Even if the favor is asked with charm or urgency, repeated requests like this eventually read as manipulation. It’s far more professional to ask for help in prioritizing tasks with a manager than to pawn them off on peers.
3. Asking Them to Lie for You
Whether it’s calling in sick while actually on a beach or pretending to be at a meeting that never existed, asking a colleague to lie is one of the most damaging things someone can do to workplace trust. It puts both parties in a compromising position, especially if the lie is discovered and disciplinary action follows. Even when nothing immediately goes wrong, the knowledge that someone was willing to fabricate information corrodes team integrity. It also signals a willingness to exploit loyalty for personal gain, which no one wants to be part of. Professional relationships thrive on transparency and lie—even small ones—put everything at risk.
4. Asking Them to Take on Emotional Labor for You
Co-workers are not therapists, and the expectation that they should consistently provide emotional support—especially during work hours—can be unfair. Everyone has stress, and occasional venting is normal, but routinely leaning on a colleague for validation, sympathy, or conflict mediation becomes draining. This dynamic often goes unnoticed until tension rises or the relationship fractures. It’s important to recognize when conversations are veering into emotional dependency rather than healthy professional rapport. Boundaries matter, especially in environments where people must collaborate under pressure.
5. Asking Them to Take the Fall in a Meeting
It’s one thing to discuss strategy before a meeting, but it’s entirely different to ask someone to intentionally deflect blame or shield a peer’s bad decision in front of a manager. These kinds of setups quickly destroy credibility, especially when colleagues realize someone is only protecting their own image. It also disrespects the time and purpose of the meeting, which is often about finding solutions—not assigning scapegoats. A co-worker who’s thrown under the bus once won’t forget it, and others who witness the act will take note. Leadership comes from accountability, not from dodging it.
6. Asking Them to Handle Personal Errands
Requesting help with personal tasks—whether it’s picking up lunch, covering for a missed appointment, or handling private errands—pushes professional boundaries. Even if framed as a harmless ask, it creates an uneven power dynamic that can feel exploitative. Co-workers are hired to fulfill business roles, not act as assistants or stand-ins for personal responsibilities. These requests also take time away from legitimate work, which can lead to missed deadlines or lower productivity across the team. Keeping personal and professional lives separate helps preserve mutual respect and keeps the workplace focused on shared goals.
Respect Starts with Boundaries
In any professional environment, respect is currency. The way someone treats their co-workers—especially when no one’s watching—says everything about their leadership, character, and long-term career potential. Being part of a team means knowing when to ask for help and when to handle things solo.
The quickest way to build trust is to avoid the asks that take advantage of others’ time, integrity, or emotional energy. If there are any workplace “asks” that others should avoid too, share them in the comments below—because great teams are built on open conversations and better boundaries.
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The post NEVER Ask Your Co-Workers To Do Any Of These Six Tasks For You appeared first on Everybody Loves Your Money.
