Things You Should Never Talk About at Work

With the same people seeing each other every weekday for 40 hours or more a week, conversations in the workplace can get pretty loosey-goosey.

However, that doesn’t mean you should let your guard down and start saying whatever pops into your mind. Despite some people getting away with saying whatever they want to on Twitter, you need to maintain professional decorum at your workplace and be smart about the things you say.

It’s a good idea to avoid the following topics whenever you step into your place of employment.

Thoughts on race, religion and politics

You might have a pretty educated, thoughtful and balanced take on something involving race, religion or politics, but it’s probably a good idea to keep it to yourself when you walk into work.

If someone else brings up something related to one of these topics, it’s perfectly acceptable to tell the other person, “I really don’t like talking about that stuff at work,” and hope they move on to someone else or some other topic.

Difficult personal issues

Trying to cope with a difficult personal issue can be tough at work. Often, it’s all you can do to stop thinking about it, and just focus on your job.

Venting to a co-worker might seem like a good way to cope with your personal situation. However, the people you work with are not the best folks to be sharing intimate details of your life with.

For one thing, weighty conversation when someone is anticipating small talk could make the other person uncomfortable. Furthermore, if that person can influence your career, you might be giving them the impression that your personal life tends to get in the way of your career.

If you’re really upset over something in your life, find a friend, relative, or professional counselor who will listen, be discreet about your problems and possibly help you sort through the situation.

Things that suggest a deep-seeded problem

Talking about drinking, smoking, gambling, law breaking and any kind of violence can be a red flag for certain people, even if something was said jokingly or in a way you thought was harmless. Seriously consider avoiding anything that might even hint at an addiction or chronic pathological behavior.

White lies

Let’s be honest: We’ve all told a little white lie here or there to try and impress someone. It’s not a good habit and one you should avoid in the workplace.

The problem with white lies, as everyone knows, is they can come back to bite you. So if you went to Harvard but transferred to a more modest school, resist the urge to tell you co-workers that you have a Harvard diploma, lest you be discovered and get branded as a fraud.

Gossip

This one is tough to avoid. With so much time in the workday, people are bound to talk about each other.

You should do your best to stay out of the rumor mill, and if you do, you’ll maintain a classy reputation among your colleagues.

At Career Concepts, one of our core values is upholding professional values. If you’re looking to partner with a staffing firm that strives for high ethical standards, please contact us today!