How Not to Get Fired

What is TMI? You are probably guilty of it or are one of it’s victims. It means “too much information” and it’s one of the reasons for an awkward life nation-wide.

Think of a recent conversation you had with someone you know. He tells you something that changes your view of him forever, unfortunate eh?

Talking on the bus is one thing, but when you chitchat to one of your co-workers at the office about private matters, that’s another story. You may end up losing your reputation in your community, or even your job because of a rumor which reached one of the bad apples in your workplace.

Here is a list of 10 things you shouldn’t share at work:

1. Confidential Work Information: You just might find yourself fired because you couldn’t keep a work secret to yourself.

2. Politics: A discussion about politics can very easily get blown way out of proportion at home, but family members are obligated to love you, co-workers are not, so avoid these discussions at work if you value your job.

3. Religion: See above, “Politics”.

4. Medical History: Have you ever wondered why hospitals aren’t allowed to share your medical information with anybody? It’s because of people’s tendency to treat you as a sick child when they know what you suffer from. Your boss might be one of those people, and you might not be treated like when you were seven.

5. Gossip: One of the biggest no-nos in any employment you manage to think about (with the obvious exception of the press). If you think about spreading any rumor then think about how you would feel if someone said the same about you behind your back.

6. Therapy Sessions: Keeping this private is the best you can do for your career, because telling anyone at work wont make it any better and someone can start bad rumors about you.

7. Plans to Quit: If you may want to quit and look for a new job, do not tell anyone who works with you because he might pass the word on to your boss and you will end up fired before you are actually ready to start your next job, and people will start treating you as if you already left or don’t belong anymore, if you’re not fired.

8. Online Anger Venting Sites: This is an obvious one, especially if you are venting about work matters. If you do manage to get yourself signed up at one of these sites, then do NOT give a co-worker a link to that page, or things could go ugly.

9. Salary Information: It is a weird topic in our culture. We tend to be very curious about what other people make, yet we are not ready to tell others about ours! When your salary is out in the open, it invites speculation of whether you are over or undercompensated.

10. Heart Matters: You don’t want to make your office a soap-opera like atmosphere, especially when you are barging in one day crying about your recent ex-wife and skidding down the hallway another day about the new love of your life. You are too happy to keep it in you say? Take a break from work for a couple days till you calm down a little bit.

I hope you enjoyed my article, and good luck! Please remember, if you learned anything new from my article then click on that “I like It” button. Be sure to read my next article on “10 Red Flags On Job Searching”.