AITAH for Not Giving Up My Promotion to My Struggling Coworker?

In the modern workplace, ambition and empathy often collide. Today’s AITAH scenario from Reddit’s popular AITAH subreddit dives into a workplace dilemma where personal success clashes with another person’s misfortune—and leaves one employee questioning if they’ve become the office villain.

Let’s break it down and see who’s truly in the wrong here.

The Situation: A Long-Awaited Promotion Creates Unexpected Tension

The original poster (we’ll call him Adam), a 32-year-old employee at a mid-sized marketing firm, recently received a long-anticipated promotion to team lead after five years of hard work, long nights, and successful campaigns. The promotion came with a raise, new responsibilities, and a team of five under his guidance.

But shortly after the news was announced, Adam’s coworker and friend, Josh, pulled him aside.

Josh, 34, has worked at the same company for nearly as long. Unlike Adam, his performance had been more inconsistent, mostly due to personal issues—his wife is battling a serious illness, and he’s been juggling work and caregiving duties.

Josh asked Adam to consider turning down the promotion so he could have it instead.

The Ask: A Favor or a Guilt Trip?

Josh argued that the extra salary would help cover his wife’s medical expenses, and the prestige of the new role might give him a morale boost during a difficult time.

Adam was stunned. He empathized deeply with Josh’s situation, but he also felt blindsided. He had earned the promotion fair and square. He had worked nights, taken on extra projects, and led successful campaigns, often without recognition.

Still, Josh insisted. “You’re single, no kids, you’ll get another shot,” he said. “I need this more than you.”

When Adam politely declined, Josh accused him of being selfish and cold-hearted. Word spread around the office, and now some colleagues are giving Adam the cold shoulder.

Feeling conflicted, Adam turned to Reddit and asked: AITAH for not giving up my promotion to help a struggling coworker?

The Community Responds: Sympathy, But Not Support

The Reddit community didn’t hesitate to weigh in—and the vast majority sided with Adam.

“No One Owes a Promotion to Someone Else”

The top comment summed it up:
“Promotions are earned, not gifted. It’s tragic that your coworker is struggling, but it’s not your responsibility to give up your career goals for someone else’s hardship.”

Others noted that allowing guilt or personal circumstances to dictate professional advancement creates a dangerous precedent. While empathy is important, using emotional leverage to claim a role you didn’t earn is manipulative.

“Support Your Coworker, But Not at Your Own Expense”

Many users emphasized that Adam can still support Josh in other ways—like advocating for workplace flexibility, organizing a fundraiser, or helping him apply for internal support programs—but sacrificing a major career milestone is too big a price.

One comment nailed it:
“Compassion doesn’t mean surrendering your dreams.”

The Bigger Picture: Boundaries in the Workplace

This situation touches on broader questions of fairness, boundaries, and emotional labor in professional environments.

• Can empathy cross the line into emotional manipulation?

• When does being a team player become being a doormat?

• Is it fair to expect someone to pause their life because yours is falling apart?

Adam’s story illustrates how personal hardship, while real and deserving of compassion, should not be weaponized to guilt others into unfair sacrifices.

Navigating Complex Office Dynamics

For Adam:

• Hold firm boundaries while expressing empathy.

• Offer non-career-related support if possible.

• Document interactions to protect against workplace retaliation or gossip.

For Josh:

• Seek HR or management support for flexibility or financial help.

• Understand that no one owes you a promotion.

• Focus on performance and growth opportunities when ready.

The Verdict: Not the Villain

Reddit’s ruling—and a fair one—is that Adam is not the villain in this story.

He didn’t take anything from Josh. He earned what he was offered, and declining the promotion would not magically solve Josh’s problems. Promotions aren’t pity prizes—they’re professional recognitions.

What Josh needs is support from his employer, not a guilt trip towards a colleague.