The Rise of 'Fail Watching' in UK Workplaces
A disturbing new workplace trend has emerged across British offices, with young professionals increasingly engaging in what psychologists are calling 'fail watching'. This modern form of schadenfreude sees employees secretly taking pleasure in their colleagues' professional mistakes and misfortunes.
Recent research from EduBirdie reveals that 34% of Generation Z workers openly admit to participating in this behaviour. While many of us have experienced momentary satisfaction when an overconfident coworker gets their comeuppance, experts warn this has evolved into something more systematic and potentially damaging.
Why Gen Z Is Particularly Vulnerable
According to workplace psychologists, Generation Z's susceptibility to fail watching stems from their upbringing in what experts term the '24/7 performance loop' of social media. Avery Morgan, CHRO at EduBirdie, explains this phenomenon in stark terms.
'When young people hold themselves to impossible standards, watching someone else stumble becomes a subconscious way to confirm they're not the only one struggling,' Morgan states. 'It's not necessarily cruelty - it's often plain self-defence.'
The current economic climate exacerbates these tendencies. Official statistics from the Office for National Statistics show 9,000 fewer vacancies in the three months leading to September this year, marking the 39th consecutive monthly drop. Meanwhile, research from the Institute of Student Employers paints an even grimmer picture for graduates.
'The ISE found that during the 2023/2024 recruitment cycle, a staggering 1.2 million applications were submitted for just 17,000 UK graduate roles,' the report reveals. This intense competition creates perfect conditions for fail watching to flourish.
The Psychology Behind the Phenomenon
Dr George Sik, psychologist and director of psychometric testing company eras, provides deeper insight into the psychological mechanisms driving fail watching.
'In psychology, we call this "downward social comparison",' Dr Sik explains. 'When we feel insecure about our own performance or status, witnessing a colleague stumble triggers a quick, short-term boost in self-worth. It's a form of relief that signals to the brain, "I might be having a rough week, but at least I'm not doing that badly."'
This psychological response can become dangerously addictive. Dr Sik warns that our brains release 'a quick dopamine hit of superiority' that temporarily soothes feelings of inadequacy or imposter syndrome without requiring any actual improvement in our own work performance.
'Essentially, it's a way of feeling safe in a competitive tribe by confirming that someone else is the 'weakest link,' not you,' he adds.
Long-Term Consequences and Workplace Impact
Despite the temporary relief it provides, fail watching carries significant long-term risks for both individuals and organisations.
'The impact is ironically self-destructive,' Dr Sik cautions. 'Relying on others' failures for confidence creates a fixed mindset. You become obsessed with external validation and how others are doing, rather than your own internal growth.'
Leadership development consultant Drew Povey identifies specific workplace cultures that encourage fail watching behaviour. Low-trust environments where mistakes are punished rather than treated as learning opportunities create ideal conditions for this phenomenon to thrive.
'When companies cultivate this culture or fail to nip it in the bud, employees hide problems rather than solve them, collaboration suffers, and resentment can grow,' Povey explains. 'It shifts focus from improvement to blame, reducing productivity and morale.'
Combating the Fail Watching Culture
For individuals struggling with fail watching tendencies, Dr Sik recommends several practical strategies:
- Practice conscious awareness of the impulse
- Identify what aspect of your performance feels threatened
- Develop 'upward empathy' by recognising anyone can make mistakes
- Offer support to colleagues you feel negative towards
'You'll find that the dopamine hit from helping someone recover is, in fact, far more sustainable than the cheap thrill of watching them fail,' Dr Sik advises.
For employers seeking to create healthier workplace environments, Drew Povey suggests:
- Encouraging psychological safety and compassionate leadership
- Rewarding teamwork over individual achievement
- Implementing transparent communication practices
- Ensuring fair workload distribution
- Developing learning-oriented responses to mistakes
As the UK job market continues to present challenges for young professionals, understanding and addressing the root causes of fail watching becomes increasingly crucial for maintaining healthy, productive workplace cultures across the country.
