Rachel Zupek, CareerBuilder.com writer
Some people are men and women of few words -- to work in an office with such people is a blessing. Most workers, however, are stuck in a workplace where they hear about everything from a co-worker's baby-making plans to his estranged relationship with his father.
Talking about such topics might be OK to share over cocktails with your best friend -- they are not OK for the workplace.
Because people spend more time at the office with co-workers than anywhere (or anyone) else, some workers have trouble drawing the line between business and friendship, says Susan Solovic, co-founder and CEO of SBTV.com, and author of three books, including "Reinvent Your Career: Attain the Success You Desire and Deserve."
"It's a social environment as well as a work environment. However, you must remember: While you can be friendly and develop a good rapport, business is business and friendship is friendship."
These days, your job security is unstable enough as it is. The last thing you need is to make an off-the-cuff remark that gets you fired (or shunned from the likes of your co-workers). To help keep your career on track, here are 10 things you should never say or discuss in the workplace:
1. "That's not my job."
When you boil things down, everyone does things that "aren't their job." If everyone complained that a certain task wasn't in the offer they signed, the labor force would be in more trouble than it already is. If someone asks for your help, take it as a compliment. He or she obviously values your input or thinks your skills would be good fit for the task. Not only will it help earn good office karma (you never know when you'll need help from other colleagues), but it never looks good to only do the bare minimum. And no boss wants to hear those four words!
2. "I don't mind helping you with that." (With a fake smile pasted on your face.)
There's nothing worse than someone who offers to help and then complains about it later. If you take on a task with a smile but don't really want to do it, your help is as good as no help at all. When you work without enthusiasm, it's never your best effort. Plus, don't say you'll do something if you have no intention of actually completing the task or you'll earn a reputation as an unreliable person. Your colleagues are relying on you, so your decision not to follow through impacts their jobs, too.
3. "Don't tell anyone I said this, but ... "
Anytime you start a sentence with that phrase, you're asking for one thing: The recipient of your knowledge to, indeed, tell someone you said that. If it's really a secret, keep it to yourself. Whether you know someone in the office got pregnant by the mail guy or you found out what the boss makes, you're going to get credit for spreading the news. Plus, if a co-worker is gossiping with you, most likely he or she will gossip about you.
4. "I haven't gotten a raise, EVER."
Since most employers base salary increase on productivity (not longevity), asking for a raise based on how long you've been with the company or how long it's been since your last one will tell your boss only that you want more money -- not that you deserve it. Instead, prove the raise is merited.
5. "I'm so ... stressed out/busy/sick of working here."
Constant complaints about your workload, stress levels or the company will quickly make you the kind of person who never gets invited to lunch. If you don't agree with company policies and procedures, address it through official channels or move on.
6. "I have insert weird, gross or inappropriate medical condition here ."
Nobody cares about your aches and pains, the weird fungus on your foot, your infertility woes or the bad gas you got from eating Chinese food last night. To your employer, your constant medical issues make you seem like an expensive, high-risk employee. And to your co-workers, you seem like an attention-seeking hypochondriac.
7. "Whom did you vote for?" or "What religion are you?"
The old adage that you shouldn't discuss politics or religion is as true today as ever before. People have strong, passionate views on both topics and you may alienate a co-worker or be viewed negatively based on your views in a way that could impact your career.
8. "I got so trashed last night ..."
It's perfectly fine to have fun after work, but don't brag about your drunken escapades to your boss. The fact that you showed up for work despite still recovering from a massive hangover might be impressive, but it means nothing if you spend the day recounting your activities versus working. Not to mention, sharing that information makes you look unprofessional and unreliable.
9. "I don't have time for that."
In case you didn't realize, everybody's busy. If your boss asks you to do something, chances are it's not really an option. If your main concern is accomplishing the task on time, be honest and tell that to your boss. Mention how busy your schedule is but that you can accommodate the request if some other projects are rearranged. You'll show that you take each assignment seriously and only want to turn in your best work.
10. "I just bought a $1,000 watch for the boss."
While the spirit of keeping up with the Joneses is alive and well in the workplace, constantly sharing how much you spent on gifts, meals or outings will only have others annoyed. Not only will it seem like you're bragging, but you don't want others speculating on the lifestyle you're living -- or if you're living beyond your salary bracket.
Next: 10 Worst Work Habits >>
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Search by Company | Search by IndustryRachel Zupek is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.
Copyright 2009 CareerBuilder.com.
Feb 7th 2009 @ 10:12PM Danita
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Reply
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Feb 28th 2009 @ 8:55PM Bo
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Feb 28th 2009 @ 9:15PM JaxWstSide
Actually this is to the writer of the article Rachel. -- I am generally not so outspoken but I'm sick of management telling me what I can say or even think. People writing this pablum would have us all kissing the boss's hiney all day, everyday, while our wages and self respect erode. There is such a double standard in the work place today. The shop floor workers and the people slogging through the endless paperwork jungle in these mind-numbing cubicle prisons, the people who actually get the job done, are supposed to be loyal, docile and comply. Meanwhile the company leaders who are always taking $10,000 and up training courses or networking conferences in posh conference centers hundreds of miles away only seem to learn to feel no loyalty, compassion or respect for their workers at all. Even when they give praise or a pat a person on the back it isn't genuine, it's because they were told by that $40,000 a speech guru they heard at he conference say you can keep good workers by stroking them occassionally while minimizing pay raises. Maybe so if the "good workers" are mindless zombies". We should all say get your hand off my shoulder - show me the money! I'm not a puppy, I'm a person with bills to pay. The company stock price or that new buzz word, RVUs, drops a point or two and it's an excuse to lay off workers. Get a complaint from a customer no matter how unsupported it is and an employee gets canned. I work in a hospital and see this same treatment of the unwashed masses at play even from the doctors and overpaid administrators who run what should be a place of compassion and caring. By the way patients don't get any better treatment. It's 15 minutes with a fake smile, minimal exam (maybe), next customer. More than that doesn't fit into the business plan - short for profit margin. If an employee says what they really think about a loser program or a lazy co-worker who the boss has the hots for and he/she is in jeapardy. And they have all our co-workers serving as snitches to the KGB everytime they hear something they don't like from a co-worker. The whole time the bosses are harping about improving communications. We work in a world of ditzy yuppies, who have never worked with their hands and barely with their minds and none of them have the compassion of a brick. I've heard 20 somethings right out of their parent-paid college programs disparage 60-year-old housekeeping staff who work ten times harder than they ever thought of as if they were peasant slaves. My dad taught me this was America where anyone who works deserves respect just for getting out there and getting the job done everyday. Today's plunging economy is the result of all this leadership by self-help book approach and by the fact that we've sent production of anything anyone would want to buy oveseas. In it's place we have a "services" economy, where everyone but the upper crust get trickled down on - something like being whizzed on by your dog after he's slurped down more water than he needs. When people don't have the money or confidence to buy the basic needs, "services" are the last thing they're going to buy. Deception, manipulation and greed eventually catches up with even the craftiest business managers and the current economy is how we're all paying for it. Maybe some of the blame is ours for letting them sell us this bag of crap. To my fellow members of the masses I say - throw away the self-help books, quit worrying so much about the occasional swear word or grousing from the next cubicle. I'm surprised even more people don't swear and go postal the way they try to put us in little boxes and keep stuffing more and more meaningles forms into the box on top of us. To the bosses, give us work that actually produces something other than more paperwork, stop worrying about our personal habits/beliefs and share the wealth. It's time for workers to speak up not shut up.
Mar 17th 2009 @ 3:26PM TOM
I had a job working for myself from home once. Didn't work out, I hated my boss.
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Apr 21st 2009 @ 6:47PM sjhigh
you're lame, you're sites lame
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you suck, your site sucks.
Apr 21st 2009 @ 7:58PM Larry
Yeah, travel cheap.
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Jun 7th 2009 @ 6:42AM Carol
Danita,
I whole heartedly agree!
Jun 11th 2009 @ 11:20AM mamamia718
Lol that is so true i remember all the pressures and insecurities I felt working at this one law firm. Thats what really pushed me to go into business for myself. There is a health and wellness company new to the US called Ardyss International that has brought me alot of success. Visit www.reshapeandloseweight.com to see for yourself, and if you are interested email me tsahayb@yahoo.com
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Aug 26th 2009 @ 4:13PM Smith
The first 4 promote sweat shop labor and management will take every advantage of you. I did #5 twice and it got me no where, after 5 years of hard work & putting in over time. Suggestions like these brings the USA back to the dark ages. Eventually all enthusatic workers are broken down. I seen it & have experienced it.
Aug 29th 2009 @ 2:41PM Tracey
I agree, the best job anyone can have is in the privacy of their home. One can be more productive without any bosses or crude and rude co-workers interfering on your focus and understanding of being productive. It is an absolute nuisance in working under others who we all know do nothing but treat each other in many horrific manners and give the worker they hate the most nothing, but a miserable time.
Feb 17th 2009 @ 7:01AM Hezakiah
The other 4 words not to use if you want to keep the job are, "Go F--K yourself,jerkoff."
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Feb 17th 2009 @ 1:05PM Mike
Yeah, that is a tad worse than, "It's not my job." And it's what everyone wants to say, at least once a day!
Feb 25th 2009 @ 3:08PM Jenny
I worked in this lousy hospital linens wash house in the south...and this old hag across from me used the f word like crazy (she is crazy!) and cussed people outloud to get their G** Da** A** to work, and the supervisor standing by smiling. She was never reprimanded and another woman I worked with was being harrassed till she finally told the person off who was doing it...the supervisor came over and got on to the the woman who was being harrassed and told the other woman: "I WILL NOT HEAR YOU OR SEE YOU"! In other words you can cuss her all day long or hit her and I will not do anything to you, just run her off!".....Management had told us to run her off...and we did....I am very worried about my part in it and know God will punish me for it.
Feb 25th 2009 @ 6:51PM Barbie
Those are letters, not words, if you boned up on your skills I bet your comments would change. The only reason people use that language is they don't know of any words to express themselves except trash.