Workplace Sabotage: Who's At Risk

(CBS)  Employees in the United States shed over 663,000 jobs in March. As the jobless numbers climb, how far would you go to preserve your job?

CBS News correspondent Priya David sat down with Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith to share an alarming new workplace trend.

Since the recession began in December of 2007, 5.1 million jobs have disappeared.

David hit the streets to talk with workers and experts about a certain office villain that may be on the rise.

With the economy down, experts say backstabbing in the workplace is up. Did you ever get stabbed?

"Oh, yes," says Jeanne Hartman.

"The reason for that is that, frankly, fear is on the rise, and people's survival instincts are on the rise, " says Katherine Crowley, co-author of "Working With You Is Killing Me."

According to Crowley, there's one type of employee most at risk.

"It's often the new kid on the block," she explains. "You know, eager to make friends, eager to get along with everyone, and therefore susceptible to being seduced by someone who may not have the best intentions."

She says workplace backstabbers are easy to spot.

"They're really friendly to your face. They'll do anything for you. But then when she gets around other people, or he, it's a complaint," Hartman added.

Crowley says to trust your instincts. If someone warns you about an enemy, pay attention.

"Someone says, watch your back with Allen, or you know, Susie has a little bit of an edge to her. You want to listen to them," Crowley said.

Stand up for yourself. But, she warns, always remember to "Take the high road. You don't actually want to try to get in a fighting match with the saboteur."

The bottom line is, do great work and don't be afraid to take credit for it. Let the bosses know if someone really is trying to undermine you. Your good performance should outshine any bad rumors.

[J-K9]

I think this is a very, very serious issue, if not a crime. This happened to me in my last job and I filed a complaint against them through the City of Austin's Equal Employment/Fair Housing Office on the basis of race, age, sex, retaliation, harassment, etc. They determined that the company did not break the statutes. But, it has harmed me -- emotionally, physically, and financially -- and I want to know what to do about it. Do any lawyers out there want to help me? If so, call me at 512-410-4917.

[csreese]

Over thirty years of work I have encountered some strange people who were so insecure they resorted to sabotage. About every ten years I have found one of these sad people.

1. Upon starting a new job another employee became my new "best friend" then spread a rumour about my sadistically killing a neighbor's cat. I learned they had done a similar dirty trick to my predecessor.

2. One employee who would be competing with me for a promotion waited for me to go on vacation and then locked my file cabinets and moved the spare key so my boss could not access the information for two weeks.

3. I started a new job. The one everyone was waiting for to retire and who was starting to slip intellectually started blaming all mistakes on me. Fortunately people knew what was going on but it was a tense first six months of employment. Because my Department Head really didn't stick up for me I moved on.

These employees that sabotage others are in part a product of management being stretched so they do not have the time to really manage their people. You will find poor leadership where you find sabotage. It is really a form of bullying.

[dadw5boys]

Susan Boyle makes the arguement for every boss to ONLY look at the person in front of you and not what you preceive or have heard about them.

Wake Call !!!

[Illinoiswoman]

I agree, in part, with you, jrduesing. Mainly the financial, emotional, and physical impact this has on families. For me, even years later, my children blame me and not the medical issues, they never understood at 12 and they don't at 27. Divorced and alone, that's my impact.

[Illinoiswoman]

I hate to rain on a recession item, I would love it if this workplace sabotage were a product of the current recession. In an office setting, as an Administrative Assistant/lackey in 1994, I was a victim of vicious, hideous office sabotage (in a state's attorney's office no less) . I, 15 hears later, maintain brain damage caused by the shock treatments prescribed for a nervous breakdown (later labeled Severe Major Depression, recurrent). from a structured office environment. As a freelance writer, desperate for a regular paycheck, that means never again a lead stringer, though I do write essays, articles, and op/ed. Currently, I am dealing with another illness (allowing me to leiisurely watch The Early Show) and the pain in my hands is leaving me with comments to articles. I pray daily, they will cure the pain in my hands quickly as the world situation is offering so many opinions to yell at the television screen. I would like to take this opportunity to commend the quality of your programming. My choice of KMOV St. Louis Channel 4 programming leads into your show, but there is the best reason NOT to change the channel. Trust me, I did try the competition; after all, I am a consumer. One question, Harry mentioned something about Maggie's last report, has she left the program?

[jrduesing]

After being fired form my job due to work place sabotage, I was really looking forward to this piece. What a dissapointment. You really had an opportunity to expose how sneaky employers are getting at finding ways to fire/sabotage people in an attempt to save thier bottom line. You could have given specific examples on how this is happening. You could have interviwed people who have fallen victim to this alarming new trend. You cold have explored not just the financial impact this has but the emotional and physical impact this has on families. I'm sorry, but Priya's piece sucked!