Tech coworkers are up for promotion at the same time, male colleague insists he'll quit if female colleague gets promotion: 'He demands praise for completing the most basic tasks'

Some people thrive with workplace competition; others melt down under the pressure.

The fact of the matter is that in most workplaces, employees who want to get ahead will likely face some competition when doing so. They are not the only ones in the workforce who desire more money and accolades for what they do, and as a result, they are going to have to put up a fight for it. Most companies like to think of themselves as meritocracies and are going to act accordingly.

A downside that comes from this way of working is that there is a certain contingent of people who have no problem with playing dirty. They truly believe that they deserve that competitive bonus, raise, or promotion, and they see no issue with putting others in difficult positions if that means that they will receive it. Some would argue that this is a Machiavellian approach to business, but others might say that this does not help when trying to reward actual achievement. 

Dealing with people like this as an honest employee who just wants to be recognized for their hard work can be frustrating. It's a common part of the working world, and at its worst, it can derail career strategies completely.