What Are 10 Things You Should Never Discuss With Your CoWorkers

Nancy Anderson
Posted by in Career Advice


Working with the same people each day can blur the line between friendships and professional relationships. Although you may think of your co-workers as a second family, being too chatty about certain personal or workplace issues can lead to trouble. To stay in good standing at work, avoid talking to colleagues about these 10 thorny topics.

1. Bad Managers

Publicly badmouthing managers is never a good idea, even if the company is overwhelmed with workplace issues. Managers have the power to take away top projects, disparage your character, alienate you from co-workers or get you fired, so it's wise to keep negative feelings to yourself.

2. Career Goals

Not everyone is supportive of your ambitions, especially managers who don't want to lose you or co-workers with similar long-term plans. Keeping your career goals under wraps can help you avoid sabotage from people who don't want you to move up the ladder.

3. Job Complaints

Complaining about your job or employer can make you seem like a poor team player and might offend co-workers who like the company. Do your best to hide your frustrations about workplace issues, and quietly look for new job.

4. Internal Transfers

Discussing an internal transfer can put you in an awkward position if your manager finds out from someone else. When a toxic team is struggling with workplace issues, it doesn't take long for a jealous co-worker to tip off the boss and complicate the situation.

5. Job Hunting

Be stealthy about job hunting, and restrict your search to non-working hours. Your co-workers or managers may know people from companies where you're' interviewing. While some bosses are supportive, others might retaliate and create an oppressive environment.

6. Personal Finances

Avoid conversations about financial triumphs or troubles. Finding out about your hefty paycheck can make some co-workers resentful, while discussing your debt only fuels the rumor mill.

7. Romantic Relationships

Dating co-workers is against the rules in many companies, and casually discussing your sexual activity can even open the door to sexual harassment claims. Be discreet about dating or crushes, and wait until a relationship becomes serious to notify your manager.

8. Pending Disputes

Expect scrutiny from others when you file a complaint about workplace issues. Telling your side of the story to a co-worker may seem harmless, but things you say off the record could be used to discredit your claims.

9. Recruitment Activity

Building professional relationships with headhunters is a smart way to find competitive jobs, but don't let co-workers know recruiters are seeking you out. There's no way to tell if a co-worker's going to be happy for you or jealous, so limit what you share with others.

10. Rule-Breaking

The most well-meaning friends can let it slip that you played hooky or lied about a missed deadline. Resist the urge to brag about breaking rules. Relationships change, and oversharing can backfire if a friend gets tired of overlooking your behavior.

Trust disappears in a bad environment, and many employees start looking out for their own interests. Ongoing workplace issues create tension, and the people you thought were friends can easily become your biggest critics. If you don't want your words repeated out of context, it's better keep your personal information or thoughts out of work conversations.


Photo courtesy of imagerymajestic at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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