Yeah, I’ve seen this happen before — and honestly, it can be one of the most jarring lessons in working life.
When things are going smoothly, some colleagues do feel like friends — you share jokes, cover for each other, even help each other out in tough times. But when pressure, blame, or career survival kicks in, some people flip. Self-preservation takes over, and suddenly, the bond you thought was solid becomes disposable.
It’s not always because they’re “bad people” from the start. Sometimes fear of losing their job, wanting to protect their image with the boss, or not knowing how to handle trouble makes them throw someone else under the bus. Still, it hurts — because it makes you question whether any of that earlier camaraderie was real. That’s why a lot of people say colleagues are not necessarily your friends. Work friendships can be genuine, but they exist inside an environment where politics, competition, and self-interest can shift behaviour overnight.
Bottom line: trust, but with boundaries. Keep the warmth, share the laughter — but don’t hand over your whole emotional bank account in the workplace.
