Friend or foe? At the office it's not easy

Are you not sure if they are a friend or a foe?  At work that can get complicated.  Unfortunately, distinguishing a true comrade from someone who has an eye on your job can seem like a job in itself. Career builder offers these tips for protecting yourself from the damage and stress a suspicious office friendship can cause.

1. Look at yourself first

Before you address a colleague's iffy behavior, look at your own. You could be contributing to a competitive environment with your own actions.

2. Avoid assumptions

Misunderstandings sour more workplace relationships than fundamental conflicts do. If you've heard that a colleague has been talking behind your back, for instance, don't overreact.

3. Resist retaliating

When you've confirmed that a colleague has done something objectionable, like taking credit for one of your ideas, it's tempting to respond in kind, or at least to bad-mouth the person to other colleagues.

4. Get it in writing

You can protect yourself from a frenemy without shutting down the lines of communication.

5. Consider your boss's point of view

Prematurely complaining to your boss about a shaky workplace relationship can escalate the conflict. Before you bring the matter to your manager's attention, think about how you'd want the situation to be handled if you were the boss.