Resume Now Survey Reveals Widespread Workplace Blame-Shifting
GUAYNABO, Puerto Rico, Feb. 27, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- A new survey from Resume Now®, a simple and effective resume and cover letter building service, uncovers a startling disconnect in workplace behavior. The Dirty Moves in the Workplace Report reveals that while 73% of employees insist they've never thrown a colleague under the bus, 61% say they have been victims of this behavior. Peers (64%) and teammates (37%) are identified as the primary offenders.
The survey, conducted in February 2025 with over 1,000 U.S. respondents, uncovers a pervasive culture of blame-shifting. Notably, 63% of respondents have witnessed this behavior at work, with 29% seeing it occur at least once a week. These findings highlight a widespread yet often unspoken issue that can undermine trust and productivity in the workplace.
Key Findings:
- 61% have been thrown under the bus at work, with 32% experiencing it multiple times.
- Despite this, 73% claim they have never engaged in this behavior themselves.
- 63% report seeing this in action in their workplace, with 29% witnessing it at least weekly.
- 64% cite peers as the main culprits, followed by teammates (37%) and direct managers (26%).
The Most Prevalent Dirty Workplace Moves:
The survey highlights the most prevalent tactics of workplace sabotage:
- Blaming others for their mistakes (26%)
- Sharing negative information about a coworker to leadership (21%)
- Withholding critical information that could help a colleague succeed (10%)
- Deliberately setting up a person to fail (6%)
Why People Throw Colleagues Under the Bus:
The survey reveals that career ambitions and self-preservation are the primary drivers behind this toxic behavior:
- 47% to protect their own reputation
- 45% to avoid personal consequences
- 40% to advance their career
- 40% to gain favor with leadership
Generational Insights:
- Gen Z (17%) and Millennials (18%) are more likely to be perceived as engaging in this behavior compared to Gen X (8%) and Baby Boomers (9%).
- However, nearly 49% believe that this behavior is consistent across all generations, suggesting it's a workplace issue that transcends age groups.
"Workplace blame-shifting and sabotage can have significant consequences on team dynamics, productivity, and employee morale," says Keith Spencer, career expert at Resume Now. "This research not only highlights the widespread nature of this issue but also points to the urgent need for fostering healthier, more supportive workplace cultures."
To view the full report with more information, please visit https://www.resume-now.com/job-resources/careers/dirty-moves-report or contact Joseph Santaella at [email protected].
Methodology:
The findings provided were gathered through a Pollfish survey conducted of 1,010 U.S. respondents on February 3, 2025. Participants were asked about their experiences with workplace blame-shifting, perceptions of coworker behavior, and the frequency of being blamed for mistakes at work. Participants responded to various question types, including yes/no questions, open-ended questions, scale-based questions gauging agreement levels, and questions that permitted the selection of multiple options from a list of answers.
About Resume Now
Since 2005, Resume Now has offered job seekers a fast and easy way to create a beautifully designed, expert-backed resume. With pre-written, industry-specific phrases and recruiter-approved templates, the award-winning builder enables users to create a polished and professional resume in minutes. Resume Now has been featured in major outlets such as Fortune, Forbes, and more. Stay connected with Resume Now's latest updates on Facebook and LinkedIn.
Media Contact
Joseph Santaella, Resume Now, 787-236-9388, [email protected], https://www.resume-now.com/
SOURCE Resume Now
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