politics

March 16, 2026

Office hookworms: how to deal with colleagues who steal all the credit

They roam the workplace, promoting themselves loudly and incessantly – while undermining everyone else

Office hookworms: how to deal with colleagues who steal all the credit

TL;DR

  • Office hookworms are defined as colleagues who promote themselves loudly, take credit for others' work, and undermine peers.
  • This term was coined by executive speech coach Susie Ashfield, author of 'Just F***ing Say It!'.
  • Ashfield categorizes office hookworms alongside other difficult workplace personalities like 'hippos' (bullies) and 'mosquitoes' (micromanagers).
  • The recommended strategy for dealing with office hookworms is to change your own behavior and offer abundant praise to other colleagues.
  • This approach aims to ensure credit is accurately assigned and prevent the hookworm from benefiting from others' work.
  • If difficulties persist, present evidence to HR.

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