Four studies recently confirmed there’s one trait that causes discontent in your workplace, and it’s probably not what you think. 

The four studies, led by a professor at Washington State University, found that “unselfish workers who are the first to throw their hat in the ring are also among those that coworkers most want to, in effect, vote off the island.”

The phenomenon is widespread, having negative impact on everything from group projects to non-profit initiatives to military units to boy scout troops.

The reason: Colleagues feel that these employees “raise the bar” on what’s expected of others by constantly volunteering to take on extra tasks without asking for any additional compensation (or anything to be taken off their plates). In other words, the do-gooder makes everyone else look bad.

Some co-workers also feel that do-gooders pick up the slack for employees who aren’t getting the job done, thereby causing the bad employee to keep his or her job, while everyone else is working harder to get results.

Long term, it creates an atmosphere of resentment, each of the studies found.

Bottom line: Nice guys may not finish last, but they’re not helping anyone else finish first either.

Do you have any do-gooders in your workplace? How does everyone else respond to them?

Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Source: “Do-Gooders Get Voted off the Island First,” ScienceDaily, 8/23/10.