Lazy coworker always used ‘we’ in emails to get others to do her work — until one colleague used a specific word to shut it down
Workplace dynamics can be tricky, especially when some colleagues try to dump their responsibilities onto others. One employee and Reddit user had grown tired of a coworker who consistently used “we” in emails to make it seem like tasks were shared, even though the work was entirely her own. The situation came to light in a Reddit post shared on Monday, May 18, 2026, by u/ZoisNBooks16, who described the pattern and how it had become frustrating over time. The user then crafted a clever response that ensured the coworker would do her own job and no longer play any tricks.
Coworker is going to learn she is going to fix her own mistakes.
by u/ZoisNBooks16 in coworkerstories
The breaking point came when the coworker asked for help with checking whether a customer’s policy had a non-pay cancellation. The employee quickly realized her colleague had actually submitted the cancellation herself. When she informed her about the situation, the coworker replied, "Can we get it reinstated?" At that moment, the woman decided to respond carefully, without falling for the usual tactic. Responding to the email, she used one simple word to make it clear that the responsibility rested entirely on her — “You should be able to," she wrote. She further said, "You may have to call underwriting." The coworker could no longer rely on vague language or shared responsibility.
The Reddit user shared some context about her colleague, who had been using the tactic for a while. “Extremely lazy coworker, who’s been here longer than all of us, has a bad habit of trying to get us to fix her problems. And I’ve had enough!” she remarked. She even mentioned how, after the "we," she would slyly dump the task onto her colleagues by asking, “Can you look at it? Can you call and get it reinstated?” So when it was her turn to respond, she knew she had to end the cycle by changing the whole "we" concept. In a comment, the woman mentioned that the trick worked. When asked if her coworker "pushed back," she said, "Surprisingly, no. She usually does."
The episode also highlights how workplace habits can influence team dynamics. Lazy tendencies may be overlooked for a while, but consistent behavior eventually requires action. Sometimes the best way to handle difficult coworkers is to address them directly. And the internet applauded the employee for taking a bold stand with a simple change of words. u/LostinLies1 wrote, "I like the pushback from ‘we’ to ‘you’. It puts the responsibility onto her shoulders." u/Better_Thoughts5717 added, "That 'we' trick is such a lazy move, glad you didn't take the bait." u/Solid-Musician-8467 remarked, "Good for you! I have always handled lazy coworkers in the same way. I say 'we?' Who is 'we?' But yeah, 'you' can do that."