Make the Bread, Not the Drama – Avoid These Things at Work

The other day a friend of mine that I had not seen in a while came over and was telling me about a job she recently started at a communications company. She was complaining to me about one of her co-workers and details about their very first conversation just after being introduced to each other. Apparently, this woman basically told her life story in the span of a 30 minute conversation. She revealed private details about herself, leading me to ponder the question of, “How much is too much?”. Why don’t I tell you some of the details my friend was told by this co-worker and you can decide if this falls into that category.

First, this co-worker revealed that she is an alcoholic. Actually, a recovering alcoholic but apparently she is still classified as an alcoholic even if she has been sober for two years. And that her alcoholism nearly ruined her life and her relationship with her boyfriend. Interesting conversation starter eh? She then proceeded to tell her that she has bi-polar disorder, and her boyfriend is also bi-polar saying that it’s a good thing that her partner only lives with her part-time because living together would be a disaster. But things get more juicy when the co-worker reveals that she practices polyamory and that she doesn’t believe in a monogamous relationship because it’s unnatural to be restricted to only one partner. And her co-worker hates that her boyfriend’s name is Michael because her brother’s name is also Michael and she hates her brother. Interesting woman huh? Shall I continue or have you had enough? Alright, I’ll spare you the remaining details that I had to listen to. Let’s just say that my ears were bleeding after listening to my friend talk about her annoying co-worker.

It’s only natural for personal details about your life to be revealed to co-workers but there’s a difference between that and meeting someone for the very first time and telling them every aspect of your life, especially when they’re not even interested in hearing it. I never liked the work environment in an office but there should be some level of professionalism expected in the workplace regardless of the industry. Below is a list of five things that should be avoided in the workplace.

Don’t Get Too Personal

Just as my friend experienced at her new job, I think it’s important to add to the list that getting too personal and overstepping boundaries only makes your co-workers feel uncomfortable. There is even the danger that people in the workplace will respect you less because of the details of the private info. You may practice polyamory but maybe your co-workers are part of an anti-polyamory group or something crazy like that. Even in situations where you have been in the same workplace for an extended period of time, personal details shouldn’t be discussed as the information could even become knowledge for your boss who may use this information when making character assessments and considering promotions.

Avoid the Gossiping

gossiping at work

The workplace should be about work and getting the job done….for the most part. Some jobs are stressful enough without the added headache of listening to or hearing bullshit gossip about themselves or others. Workplace gossip leads to depression for some and causes some to feel bullied. While gossiping may provide people with short term enjoyment, it creates a toxic and unproductive workplace, not to mention messing with team morale.

Inappropriate Comments

flirting coworkers

It’s common knowledge that sexual comments and innuendo should be avoided in the workplace. I remember a friend of mine who dealt with an awkward moment at work when she was munching on a piece of chocolate. Her boss said to her, ‘why are you eating chocolate? Don’t you get enough sex?”. Needless to say, she was left feeling extremely uncomfortable and left for a different position about a month later. If she wanted, she probably could have jumped on that opportunity and milked it but she didn’t. In most of these situations, these comments are not intended to make the person feel uncomfortable and they only consider their own intention as opposed to the recipients point of view. Ultimately, if you need to think about whether the comment is appropriate, then it probably isn’t and best left in your head and unsaid.

No Inter-office Dating

romance in the workplace office

I’m sure every office place has that one girl that everybody wants to get with. Whether it’s a casual hookup or dating, best to leave it alone and avoid the potential drama. It’s never a good idea to date a co-worker. Even if things are going great, do you really want to spend 24/7 with your love interest? It might seem “fun” in the beginning but it’s probably one of the worst ideas. What happens when it’s a messy break up and you can’t stand the sight of each other? The last thing you want is to have co-workers getting involved and giving you opinions and advice. It can become the case of “he said, she said”. In my opinion, if you care for the person and see yourself spending your life with them, then one of you should look for another place to work. Besides, having some time apart is healthy for a relationship and keeps things exciting.

Avoid Social Media (at work)
We hear about it all too often, an employee took a sick day then bragged about being at a football game on Facebook/Twitter only to get bused by the boss because you were too dumb to play around with your privacy settings or even better, forgot he was on your friends list. You should also avoid giving all your life details for several reasons, 1) nobody cares and 2) nobody cares. So please stop with your attention seeking ways! No need to sign in at work and “like” things or update what you’re doing at work.

There are plenty of things to avoid in the workplace but none of us have time to go through everything. I think these are top 5 things that should be avoided in the workplace and can help you get further in your profession.

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eddie

Eddie is a writer covering men's lifestyle topics for Unfinished Man. With a business degree and passion for writing, he provides reviews on the latest cars, gadgets, and other interests for today's man. Eddie crafts entertaining and informative articles aimed at helping readers live their best lives.

1 thought on “Make the Bread, Not the Drama – Avoid These Things at Work”

  1. Everything mentioned in this `article’ is self evident to all but the most cerebrally challenged. This smacks of a filler piece written to plug the seasonal holiday gap. Try to pen more interesting stuff in 2014.

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