My MIL told me that setting coworkers up to fail is actually quite common. She experienced it herself when working in the layout department of a local classified ads publication. She is a teacher by career. This was a summer job. But people still thought of her as a threat, like she's going to want to make a career there when she already has one, so they would give her conflicting "helpful" advice designed to make her do her job incorrectly. People do this to eliminate the competition and have a better chance at promotion themselves.

In my case, I tend to be "too productive" in a work situation. This, believe it or not, can backfire. While others are chit-chatting at the water cooler, taking personal calls on the phone, or spending company time online playing games, I am cranking out work. Blame my lack of social skills and the fact that I'm sort of off in my own little world sometimes, but the result is the hostility of coworkers: "You turned in 15 completed reports, to our two. What are you trying to do, suck up to the boss so you can get promoted, when I've been here longer? I'm not going to let THAT happen!" And the set-ups begin.