Workplace Betrayal: What to Do When It Happens

In business, competition is rough at every level. The higher you climb, the messier it gets. Big companies come with bureaucracy. Small ones come with a lack of structure. Either way, if someone wants your spot—or wants what you have—they’ll find a way to come for it. The higher the stakes, the more desperate people get. And that desperation? It brings out the worst in people.

You’ve probably seen some of this already:

✔ Stealing your ideas and calling them their own
✔ Sabotaging your reputation
✔ Asking for your help but not giving you the job
✔ Treating women unfairly or dismissing their input
✔ Making promises they never intended to keep
✔ Spreading lies to suit their agenda
✔ Actively blocking you from getting hired or promoted

This happens in big companies. It happens in small businesses. The truth is, the fewer guardrails in place, the more room there is for egos, fear, and insecurity to run the show. And when people act from that place, they can justify just about anything.

Don’t fool yourself: betrayal is going to happen

You can be the most loyal person in the world, work your hardest, and show up with integrity every single day—and it still won’t protect you. Someone will stab you in the back eventually. On purpose. They’ll smile to your face while they do it. And if they get caught? Expect a weak excuse. Sometimes, it’ll be someone you trusted. That’s part of what makes it sting.

Some people walk through life thinking they’re immune to this. They keep their guard up constantly, watching everyone like a hawk. Others believe being a “good person” keeps them safe. Both approaches miss the point. This isn’t about how good you are. It’s about recognizing when someone else isn’t—and having the backbone to deal with it.

Human behavior doesn’t change just because there are rules in place. If someone’s operating from fear or ego, the damage will come—rules or no rules. Small companies are especially vulnerable because the rules usually aren’t there at all.

What do you do when you know you’re being played?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer here. Every situation is different. Sometimes you need to cut ties and get away from the person. Other times, you can flip the situation and come out stronger.

It’s a lot like being a kid on the playground. When someone snatches your toy, do you let them walk off with it or do you stand your ground? Do you avoid confrontation, or do you face it head-on? The goal isn’t to create drama. The goal is to wisely navigate it and come out ahead.

But here’s the truth: not everyone has the personality to pull that off. Some people freeze. Some people hope the problem goes away. Some people take the hit and try to move on. And that’s why this topic is hard to give generic advice about.

What is universal? Knowing the signs. Trusting your gut. Feeling that twist in your stomach when something’s off and not brushing it aside. If you sense something’s wrong, it probably is. The faster you spot it, the faster you can detach and make your next move.

The worst thing you can do is take it personally. Yes, it hurts. Especially when it’s someone close. But if you let the betrayal derail you emotionally, they win twice. This is business. Stay sharp. Pay attention. Gather facts. Figure out who else is involved. Then act—strategically.

If you’re the one doing the playing? You will get caught.

There are people who think they’re too slick to ever get caught. They’ve done it before and gotten away with it, so they think they’re untouchable. But the more you play that game, the more likely it is you’re going to lose.

Ego is loud. And eventually, it trips people up. The more they lie, the harder it becomes to keep the story straight. The more people they cross, the more enemies they make. One day, they mess with the wrong person—and everything comes crashing down.

And sometimes, the wildest part is watching them keep going even when they know they’ve been found out. They just double down, digging the hole even deeper. It’s like a weird game of cat and mouse—until the trap slams shut.

The bigger your reputation, the faster it spreads when you mess up. Especially now. We’ve seen it happen. People thought they were too important to fall. But when the receipts came out, the whole thing blew up—publicly.

In the end

This is part of life. The good and the bad. You’re going to run into people who lift you up and people who try to tear you down. Sometimes in the same company. Sometimes on the same team.

What matters is how you handle it.

✔ Recognize when it’s happening.
✔ Detach emotionally and gather facts.
✔ Protect your integrity and take action.
✔ Don’t let it break you—or turn you into them.

People will treat you the way you allow them to. If you keep letting someone take advantage of you, they’ll keep doing it. You don’t have to be ruthless to win. But you do have to be smart. And the sooner you understand that, the sooner you take back control.