13 things not to say to co-workers

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

1. Salary information

What you earn is between you and Human Resources, Solovic says. Disclosure indicates you aren't capable of keeping a confidence.

2. Medical history

"Nobody really cares about your aches and pains, your latest operation, your infertility woes or the contents of your medicine cabinet," Lopeke says. To your employer, your constant medical issues make you seem like an expensive, high-risk employee.

3. Gossip

Whomever you're gossiping with will undoubtedly tell others what you said, Solovic says. Plus, if a co-worker is gossiping with you, most likely he or she will gossip about you.

4. Work complaints

Constant complaints about your workload, stress levels or the company will quickly make you the kind of person who never gets invited to lunch, Solovic warns. If you don't agree with company policies and procedures, address it through official channels or move on.

5. Cost of purchases

The spirit of keeping up with the Joneses is alive and well in the workplace, Lopeke says, but you don't want others speculating on the lifestyle you're living -- or if you're living beyond your salary bracket.

6. Intimate details

Don't share intimate details about your personal life. Co-workers can and will use the information against you, Solovic says.

7. Politics or religion

"People have strong, passionate views on both topics," Solovic says. You may alienate a co-worker or be viewed negatively in a way that could impact your career.

8. Lifestyle changes

Breakups, divorces and baby-making plans should be shared only if there is a need to know, Lopeke says. Otherwise, others will speak for your capabilities, desires and limitations on availability, whether there is any truth to their assumptions or not.

9. Blogs or social networking profile

What you say in a social networking community or in your personal blog may be even more damaging than what you say in person, Solovic warns. "Comments online can be seen by multiple eyes. An outburst of anger when you are having a bad day ... can blow up in your face."

10. Negative views of colleagues

If you don't agree with a co-worker's lifestyle, wardrobe or professional abilities, confront that person privately or keep it to yourself, Lopeke says. The workplace is not the venue for controversy.

11. Hangovers and wild weekends

It's perfectly fine to have fun during the weekend, but don't talk about your wild adventures on Monday, Solovic advises. That information can make you look unprofessional and unreliable.

12. Personal problems and relationships -- in and out of the office

"Failed marriages and volatile romances spell instability to an employer," Lopeke says. Office romances lead to gossip and broken hearts, so it's best to steer clear. "The safest way to play is to follow the rule, 'Never get your honey where you get your money.'"

13. Off-color or racially charged comments

You can assume your co-worker wouldn't be offended or would think something is funny, but you might be wrong, Solovic says. Never take that risk. Furthermore, even if you know for certain your colleague wouldn't mind your comment, don't talk about it at work. Others can easily overhear.

Source

[Nik+Heather 122]

It's right, you shouldn't say these things to your coworkers. You also shouldn't say them within earshot of your coworkers - especially phone conversations with your new girlfriend - those should particularly be made in a sound proof room.

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

After years of working I learned the hard way at first to keep work strictly work. When work starts invading my personal life through technology then I feel like nothing is private anymore. Anything we do at work that is personal is known by work even if we're on a break doing personal errands using the break room computer or phone it's still accessible by work. It's the same with any institution you work for including Universities or any state institution. Those records are accessible by FOIA because they are state government public institutions and not private. Everything you post and browse on your work computer is accessible by not only them but the public as well if you work for the public.

Edited November 3, 2009 by ~Flower~

[Nessa 23]

Plus, if a co-worker is gossiping with you, most likely he or she will gossip about you.

spot on

[Rhiannercakes 14]

Whoops, I think all of us at work combined have broken all 13 of those things

[alienlovechild 75]

5. Cost of purchases

The spirit of keeping up with the Joneses is alive and well in the workplace, Lopeke says, but you don't want others speculating on the lifestyle you're living -- or if you're living beyond your salary bracket.

I've got no problem hearing about how somebody got a good deal on a purchase or something new to the market I don't know much about.

[Heracles 417]

1. Salary information

What you earn is between you and Human Resources, Solovic says. Disclosure indicates you aren't capable of keeping a confidence.

This is a great con here.

We always discussed salary in AUS. As a result, we knew if we were getting ripped off. Oh no, not in the US of course, it's a big taboo.

Don't tell me anyone is actually stupid enough to fall for this trick by their employers?

Edited November 3, 2009 by Booyah!

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

1. Salary information

What you earn is between you and Human Resources, Solovic says. Disclosure indicates you aren't capable of keeping a confidence.

This is the great con here. We always discussed salary in AUS, hence, we knew if we were getting ripped off. Oh no, not in the US of course, it's a big taboo.

Meanwhile, employers share salary information. But we can't

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

1. Salary information

What you earn is between you and Human Resources, Solovic says. Disclosure indicates you aren't capable of keeping a confidence.

This is a great con here.

We always discussed salary in AUS. As a result, we knew if we were getting ripped off. Oh no, not in the US of course, it's a big taboo.

Don't tell me anyone is actually stupid enough to fall for this trick by their employers?

Its not only in the US. It is considered (at best) pretty immodest in the UK as well.

[Jenn! 918]

That pretty much leaves movies and television, which is what I mostly end up talking with my coworkers about. This basically says you shouldn't have friends at work.

[justashooter 430]

That pretty much leaves movies and television, which is what I mostly end up talking with my coworkers about. This basically says you shouldn't have friends at work.

that's the American way. in china we were enmeshed, but that's a different culture, entirely.

[Nikita2Charles 33]

It's not a great Idea to offer your salary info to a coworker

I can tell you from a personal experience, When my wife joined her last company, there was this colleague who was so adarmant to find out how much she's making, I told my wife to be careful if she's intersted let her go to HR and ask that question.

Over a period of time, she acted like she was buddy buddy with my wife and one day they went out for lunch and during the conversation the salary info came up and my wife kinda slipped and told her how much she was making.

My wife could tell right away she made a snafu just by the lady reaction,

"OH REALLY< YOU ARE A NEW HIRE AND YOU ARE GETTING THAT MUCH< WAY MORE THAN ME"

The next day she went to HR to ask for a raise, saying the latest new hire is getting way more money than she does.

SO GOTA BE CAREFUL

[Heracles 417]

Its not only in the US. It is considered (at best) pretty immodest in the UK as well.

UK is a whole different kettle of fish. Every single person I know who has worked in the UK always shares the one similar observation about UK workers. Most, if not all, did not give a ####### about their job. That is, they are there for the cash and are keen to get out of the office as fast as they can. aka work to live.

Whereas, a lot of people here eat, sleep and live their job. Aka live to work.

It's not a great Idea to offer your salary info to a coworker

I can tell you from a personal experience, When my wife joined her last company, there was this colleague who was so adarmant to find out how much she's making, I told my wife to be careful if she's intersted let her go to HR and ask that question.

Over a period of time, she acted like she was buddy buddy with my wife and one day they went out for lunch and during the conversation the salary info came up and my wife kinda slipped and told her how much she was making.

My wife could tell right away she made a snafu just by the lady reaction,

"OH REALLY< YOU ARE A NEW HIRE AND YOU ARE GETTING THAT MUCH< WAY MORE THAN ME"

The next day she went to HR to ask for a raise, saying the latest new hire is getting way more money than she does.

SO GOTA BE CAREFUL

What's wrong with that? What if the role was reversed and your wife was being short-changed? Would you not want her to know? Would you prefer she sit there and be exploited by the company?

[Nessa 23]

My dad taught me not to ever share how much we make with anybody else. but i think he just didn't want me to know how much he made so i wouldnt be asking him for stuff

[The_Dude 1,142]

Its not only in the US. It is considered (at best) pretty immodest in the UK as well.

UK is a whole different kettle of fish. Every single person I know who has worked in the UK always shares the one similar observation about UK workers. Most, if not all, did not give a ####### about their job. That is, they are there for the cash and are keen to get out of the office as fast as they can. aka work to live.

Whereas, a lot of people here eat, sleep and live their job. Aka live to work.

It's not a great Idea to offer your salary info to a coworker

I can tell you from a personal experience, When my wife joined her last company, there was this colleague who was so adarmant to find out how much she's making, I told my wife to be careful if she's intersted let her go to HR and ask that question.

Over a period of time, she acted like she was buddy buddy with my wife and one day they went out for lunch and during the conversation the salary info came up and my wife kinda slipped and told her how much she was making.

My wife could tell right away she made a snafu just by the lady reaction,

"OH REALLY< YOU ARE A NEW HIRE AND YOU ARE GETTING THAT MUCH< WAY MORE THAN ME"

The next day she went to HR to ask for a raise, saying the latest new hire is getting way more money than she does.

SO GOTA BE CAREFUL

What's wrong with that? What if the role was reversed and your wife was being short-changed? Would you not want her to know? Would you prefer she sit there and be exploited by the company?

So your experiences with people who have worked in the UK is so extensive that it equates to some sort of statistical poll? Or is this another anecdote being passed off as evidence?