'I stopped being the nice guy at work': Coworkers start treating employee differently as soon as he stops covering their shifts and taking on extra work

We often speak about the fact that in relationships, there are givers and takers. Ideally, you find a balance with a partner so that both actively contribute to a healthy dynamic while enjoying the privileges of one another's contributions. That way, we shouldn't have to frame both parties in such a diametrically opposed way.

This same mentality should apply to the workplace environment. The reality is that in the vast majority of hierarchical work structures, it can be difficult not to interpret the division of labor in this same manner. Upper management may appear to take far more than they give, and those with less power are often the ones who feel that they are giving far more than receiving. 

For this author, he was sick and tired of being Mr. Nice Guy. He had gained a reputation over the years for being a giver, someone who would go above and beyond for the business. You know the kind of company man I'm talking about. This is the guy who would frequently take on extra responsibilities in the hopes of a promotion he likely won't get for years to come. Well, after a while, he came to the realization that he was a giver and everyone else around him was a taker. That epiphany led to a vast change in the way in which he approached his work, and guess what? He's all the better for it. His coworkers? Not so much.