Most of us have worked with them – the pet, the golden boy or girl, the boss’s favorite, and in many cases… the tattletale. This person seems to receive the best assignments, the greatest perks, and all of the praise for a small portion of the work. You would think that this would be enough, but no! Not only do you have to endure witnessing this blatant favoritism, but also you must constantly monitor what you say and do to avoid being the name whispered into your boss’ ear. Such individuals can create a great deal of tension and negativity in an already stressful environment. What’s worse is you can’t necessarily go to your boss, because the situation can become one in which you are either: (a) attacking his friend, whom he may feel inclined to defend, or (b) attacking his judgment of character. Regardless, it is a lose-lose situation. So how do you deal with this double-edged sword? There are a few strategies you can use to avoid becoming the subject of the next office rumor, while at the same time regulating the pet/tattletale’s power in the workplace.

1. Stay positive and professional. Don’t let the unfairness of the situation consume you. By doing this, you are giving them the power to control your thoughts and feeling. You also run the risk of becoming involved in office politics, and giving them something to report back to the boss about. Instead, ignore them, or if you can stomach it, be nice to them. Investing your energy into kindness rather than anger will always generate positive benefits (both internal and external).

2. Focus on professionalism. Concentrate on your work, and excelling at the tasks that you are given. By remaining professional in both your words and your actions, you can avoid the drama, while at the same time earning much deserved recognition.

3.  Join forces with other co-workers. There is strength in numbers, and group dynamics can be a powerful tool. A group can be described as two or more individuals that work or cooperate with one another to accomplish a specific and shared goal. This common interest can easily be the vanquishing of a common adversary, which in this case is the pet. By building camaraderie, you are in effect isolating the snitch, thus taking away some of his power. Also, instead of he said – she said, you have created a he said – they said situation, making the pet’s tattletaling strategies relatively useless.

4.  Get involved. Join company boards or employee committees. Provide assistance to colleagues when asked or needed. This can improve your status beyond the scope of your immediate supervisor, and may lead to additional occupational opportunities.

5.  Make friends with your boss. While maintaining your dignity and self-respect, and not stepping on anyone in the process, attempt to connect with your boss. This can have more than one benefit, for not only will you have the chance to show him what you have to offer the company, but if you decide to talk to him about tension being caused by the office tattletale, your words will carry more weight, and possibly cause him to reconsider the status of his golden boy.

And if all else fails (and you’re not ready to look for a new job)…

6. Have fun with the snitch. Give him something to talk about. If you’re sure he will tell the boss, perhaps feed him a false rumor, that when reported will reveal him to be the unreliable character you knew him to be, while at the same time providing a little much needed comic relief.