Dealing with Favoritism: How Should Seniors React When a Junior is Shielded by Management?

What do you do when in your own team there is a junior who is favored and protected by the manager? Whatever difficult task is not given to that junior. Please suggest what the senior person can do.

Instead of beating around the bush, why don't you approach your manager directly and tell him about your concerns? You can gently inform him that given the workload, you need some assistance to ensure the work output is correct and on time. It's all about your approach to your manager, and let me caution you: put yourself in his shoes and try to analyze the reason for this. Maybe my guess is your manager feels that the junior is not right to handle the assignment, or perhaps the manager has more confidence in you than that fellow.

In any case, you have to wait and see the developments. One thing is for sure, don't vent your emotions to your manager as it will only make things worse. Best of luck.

Thank you for your suggestion. I have already tried addressing this more than once, in a professional way, of course. If it were a matter of one or two assignments, I would have understood and accepted it as a sign that I am more capable. However, this is a recurring issue. One resource is sitting idle browsing the net, while another has no time to breathe. "She will not be able to handle it" is the response I receive every time.

As a team member, this raises the question: if she is truly not capable of doing anything, why is she here? Discussions have taken place, but nothing has been resolved. Even the super boss has noticed that she doesn't work as she is supposed to, yet there is still no solution.

You have to first make the things separate. Do you have a problem with that new joiner or with your boss?

See, since she is a new joiner, your managers will undoubtedly give her a learning space and time to get adjusted to the work.

My only suggestion for you is to not get demotivated and always give your best towards your work within your potential limits. Don't work beyond your limit. Help that new joiner at times, teach her things, and ask her if she can assist you with the new assignment and responsibilities.

You have already spoken to your boss; they are all aware of the situation. Now is the time to approach with a different perspective so that the day will come when she will say that she knows and can help you out with this.

Understanding Task Allocation Between Seniors and Juniors

Why should a senior regret that a junior is not given a difficult task? A junior is less experienced and is in the process of learning work, and understandably, the manager might not be assigning difficult tasks to them. This may not be favoritism. Seniors are expected to shoulder higher responsibilities than juniors and should accept more challenges. Explore whether the issue is perceived properly.

Regards,
B. Saikumar
Mumbai

In the workplace, there is a need for intimacy, interaction, and relationships. Favoritism is something that is handled differently by individuals. One can see it from the manager's perspective; they might have constraints, pressures, and other issues. When the manager is unable to handle the situation in equilibrium, you should try to assist them.

Dealing with Favoritism

One thing to remember is not to compare yourself with others. If you are being compared to others, voice your opinion. It is a better way to deal with favoritism in the workplace; otherwise, it creates a negative environment for you and your seniors.

Thank you.

Our team members have given very valuable suggestions in this regard. I would like to add something.

Trust and Team Dynamics

When we talk about the team, its very existence depends on the trust, faith, and mutual understanding among the team members. Please have faith in your manager and the junior team member. They know well to whom to assign the assignments.

In my opinion, there is no favoritism towards the junior team member. It is just a matter of time for her to adjust to the environment. Gradually, she will be given assignments.

It is your duty as a good team member to help your junior colleague adapt to the environment so that she can learn quickly.

Moreover, it is great that you have been given assignments. Your learning experience is expanding, and your boss has confidence in your ability to handle them.

Best Wishes.

Hopefully by now your problem would have been resolved, as you posted about it almost a year ago. However, I just wanted to tell you that when difficult tasks come your way, you are the one who benefits. Your junior receiving all the sympathy is just losing time. So, welcome any challenging tasks with an open mind.

In my previous company, the CEO himself mentioned that each day you spend working is not just for the company, society, or the country but to add responsibilities to your resume. The work you do today will be proudly showcased by you in your next interview. So, think about it and approach things positively.

It is natural to feel irritated when such things happen. Always try to see the brighter aspect. The task assigned to you is a difficult one, yet you are able to solve them. Unknowingly, you are becoming an expert in your work, but you are not able to enjoy this achievement as you are wasting your time thinking about the junior. Please try not to bring negativity into your life, as this will hinder your growth. In fact, I am sharing this because I know of an individual who faced a similar problem. He was very upset like you, feeling that when all the trainees are paid the same salary, why should he work more while others are enjoying.

I gave him the same advice I give to you. It was not easy, but he tried to do his work with dedication and also helped his team. Today, he is working as a project manager at a well-known company and received personal appreciation from the CEO for taking on the most difficult jobs and his helpful nature. He received over a 100% raise in his salary in just 1 year. So, the choice is yours.

All the best.

Regards,
Anita

Hi Akanksha, I am sure you must have sorted out the problem and now would be in a better situation. However, I would like to give the following suggestion if you ever happen to encounter a similar situation or to any other person who might face a similar situation:

Steps to Handle Underutilized Team Members

If you have a new joiner who you feel is almost sitting idle and your supervisors think he/she would not be able to handle the task expected to be accomplished, I think as his/her colleague, you should try to help him/her out by giving a brief on the work assigned and what is to be done. You can ask for suggestions from the person in that matter. Give some minor tasks in that whole job and try to see where he/she stands. Provide an honest report to your superiors stating the progress report of your junior.

If you might be aware, in order to climb the ladder up, it is essential to help the people below us to grow. When they grow, we will automatically grow. This is my philosophy. You are free to object to it.

I completely agree with you, as the more you help others, the more you learn. When dealing with favoritism, the way to help oneself is by concentrating on one's own growth. This focus will help ignore the negative things happening around. As the statement rightly goes, "Be so busy competing with oneself that you are left with no time to complain about others."