Are you envious of your coworkers? Here’s how to deal with it

The green-eyed monster is among your team: A staggering 42% of employees report feeling jealous of their coworkers at least once a week, according to a new Skynova study. 

“It can be a complicated and frustrating emotion to feel jealous of your coworkers, but it seems to be an issue that many people face,” Bri Godwin Huyke, spokesperson for Skynova. 

What causes workplace envy? Money is the top contender, with 32% of respondents citing salary as the biggest source of jealousy, whether they harbor feelings of jealousy for a peer or a boss. 

“The top items that respondents say they are jealous of are a coworker’s salary, promotions and career achievements. Overall, respondents say workplace envy is stoked by award ceremonies, the boss picking favorites, and braggadocious coworkers,” says Godwin Huyke. 

So if you’re envious of your teammate for getting praised over Slack (over one in five people feel pangs of envy when others are praised via communication channels), don’t fret: it’s completely normal. But it’s important to be aware of this tendency and avoid letting it get the best of you at work, because it can have negative effects on your career if left unchecked. 

Here are productive ways to deal with workplace envy. 

Recognize that it can affect your motivation 

Being triggered when your work friend lands a role you coveted is only human. However, experiencing chronic feelings of jealousy can affect your motivation and engagement at work. And the first step to dealing with the situation constructively is recognizing that your lack of motivation could be fueled by underlying factors such as workplace envy. 

“29% of respondents say workplace envy is demotivating while 38% say it is motivating. While some may find themselves being less apt to work hard potentially due to feeling like they won’t get the same recognition as a coworker, others may be motivated to work harder or do more in the workplace,” suggests Godwin Huyke.  

Stay self-aware 

Remaining self-aware is key, because not only can that awareness help you identify whether you struggle with workplace envy and whether it’s affecting your job satisfaction, but it will also allow you to take action so you can feel better about things. 

“It’s important to assess what is making you jealous of a coworker, and to ask yourself if it is something you are able to attain or achieve as well. If the workplace envy is making you feel very upset, it also may be best to separate yourself from that coworker at least for a little while to avoid hostility in the workplace.” 

Avoiding a coworker who can’t stop bragging about their raise might be best for your mental health. Other steps might include investing in your professional development, having an honest conversation with your boss or HR or working on increasing your confidence. It all depends on the source of your own workplace jealousy — and the only way to find out is through honest self-introspection. 

Use jealousy as an insight 

You can then decide to use your jealousy as a source of insights, which is way better than spending sleepless nights fantasizing about the source of your envy getting fired. 

If you’re wondering what that can look like, consider the fact that respondents who worked for companies with 51 to 100 employees were more envious of career achievements versus salary. And that professionals working in even smaller organizations cared more about their relationship with their boss. “Smaller companies seem to value attention from the boss more than larger companies, with respondents working at companies with 50 employees or less ranking such attention second,” according to Skynova. 

Now, if you work for a behemoth corporation and find yourself jealous of your coworker who just received a company-wide award, perhaps it’s a sign you would thrive in a startup environment where you’d have more opportunities to shine. If you feel a pit in your stomach after your teammate tells you she had a glowing performance review and great conversation with the boss you both share, it may signal you crave a tighter-knit relationship with your manager where you get more one-on-one time. 

The point is, you can use your workplace envy as a source of information that allows you to get to know yourself and your needs on a deeper level — and act accordingly. 

Celebrate instead of competing

According to Skynova, ceremonies highlighting the achievements of some coworkers are the No. 1 workplace way to fuel workplace jealousy. But here is a unique reframe: What if you joined the celebrations and intentionally channeled all your jealousy into positivity? 

“Some would argue that workplace envy is inevitable. Overall, try to remain positive in the workplace and potentially even happy for your coworker and the accolades or achievements they attain,” says Godwin Huyke. 

It might be hard to embrace this mindset when you feel bitter that you’re not on the receiving end of such accolades, but if it’s possible for your coworker, it means it’s possible for you too. And, in many ways, the more you celebrate others, the more positive energy you generate to make your goals that much more attainable instead of focusing on what you don’t yet have.