We spend a vast proportion of our time at work and whilst our work colleagues are like a second family, there are certain things you shouldn't discuss at work that I would like to share. The work place is a bit like a jungle, with professional predators at every turn. Without sounding too paranoid, it's difficult to know whom to trust so just be wary of what you say, as sometimes people can hold it against you or it can be grounds for jealousy and some subsequent unprofessional conduct. So, in the interests of a more harmonious working environment, here are some things you shouldn't discuss at work.
This is really important and is one of the reasons I have put it at the top. Talking about pay can cause disharmony and jealousy in some professional circles. There are those who are convinced (and sometimes quite rightly) that they have done more or have earned that promotion more than the other person, so this can lead to a tense working environment. This is why I believe it's one of the things you shouldn't discuss at work.
We've all been there but advertising your drunken night of debauchery is probably not a good idea in the work place. The problem is that no matter what, your past can come back to bite you on the behind, so if you have had a night of excess, great, I'm no puritan. Just be careful about the impression you give at work where the boss's ears may be pricked up.
We all sometimes ride on the crest of the relationship wave and sometimes the waters can be stormy. The problem is that if you're constantly talking about the fact that your significant other is a pain in the behind, it can be embarrassing for your work colleagues if they meet them at the next social gathering. It's also embarrassing because chances are, you guys will work things out but your work colleagues will be questioning why you're together if he or she causes you so much grief. Just be careful what you divulge.
Families are funny things and there is no such thing as a perfect one. We all have our arguments and periods of uncommunicativeness with various members, which can go on for years, and although I sound like a member of the mob, sometimes family business is family business. The Waltons and The Brady Bunch were great TV shows but they were just that, great TV shows with fictionalized perfect families. No one expects yours to be the same.
Our past is passed so there is no point in agonizing over something you did which you regret, especially if you don't want your work colleagues to know about it. And although you may feel as though you trust someone in the work setting, just be careful, as some people often have their own agenda and will stop at nothing to climb the next rung of the promotional ladder, not caring who they have to step over on their way up.
No, I'm not talking about stealing stationery here. To steal the words of Ross Geller, it's best not to do the above but if you have, perhaps refrain from advertising the fact. This is one thing which can cause tension and nasty back-stabbing in the professional jungle.
Naturally, there are going to be people you like more than others in the work place but it's best to remain neutral. Is neutrality even possible though, I hear you ask? And doesn't gossip help build bonds in the work place? I think remaining neutral can be hard, as people naturally like to travel in packs, but the problem with pack mentality is that you can sometimes be inadvertently drawn into nastiness. And although I do believe that gossip can help build bonds between people, it can also spread like a virus, mutating at every turn until it's difficult to separate the truth from fiction and someone is bound to get hurt.
Can you think of any other topics you shouldn't discuss with work colleagues? Or maybe you've found yourself in a position where you have divulged a little more than you should have. I want to hear!