Ten Things you can’t tell your Boss
If you like and appreciate your job and want to keep it, being on good terms with your boss should be a top priority for you. Working for an employer means that you must adhere to a list of written and unwritten rules about how to conduct yourself at work. Failure to conduct yourself in an appropriate way can result in you losing your job, your credibility, and possibly being blacklisted from ever working in your industry again. There are ten things you should keep to yourself and never tell your boss if you want to keep your job.
Never tell your boss that you are feeling tired. Employers get irritated when their employees are not performing to the best of their abilities. If you are not feeling alert enough to do well at your work tasks, it is best if you ask to leave work early and go home. If you notice at the beginning of the day that your energy is low and you feel lethargic, call in sick. It is worse to show up to work when your boss and co-workers can clearly see that you should be in bed instead.
Don’t tell your boss that you have a special event you need to go to on a day when you haven’t booked it off as a vacation day. Some employers are sticklers for employees reserving work days off but if you have an unexpected event that comes up and you want to be present for it, don’t let your boss know right away. Talk to your human resources department first before talking to your boss, and find out if the company will be able to let you have the day off. If your employer is not willing to give you the day off, lay low and don’t mention the event you attend in case you plan to call in sick in from work on the day you need off.
Unless the activities you did during your off work hours include information that your boss needs to know about for business purposes, avoid dishing details to your boss about what a blast you had on the weekend. Your aim should be to consistently present a professional image of yourself to your employer. If your employer thinks that you are not “safe” to keep on at the company, you will be one of the first people to be let go when pink slips are being handed out. Never tell your boss that you drank too much on the weekend instead of being a responsible (and sober) citizen.
Your personal life should be kept separate from your professional life. Don’t tell your boss about the problems you are having in your marriage or the drama your family is going through. Stick to discussing work topics only while you are at work. If your boss hears too many stories from you about how chaotic your personal life is, she might not think that you will be able to properly concentrate on your work and she will think twice before promoting you to a position at the company that requires more responsibility and professionalism.
Refrain from sharing juicy gossip with your boss about your co-workers. Spreading gossip makes you seem untrustworthy in your boss’ eyes. Gossiping about the people you work with is disloyal and does not boost morale at work. Keep the information you know about your co-workers private and only share information about them with your boss if your co-workers are doing things that are detrimental to the company.
Complaints about the work load should be kept to yourself. Never tell your boss that you think the amount of work you have to do is too much. Your boss can quickly solve your problem by handing you your walking papers and hiring someone else to do your job. In addition to not telling your boss how overworked you feel, don’t tell your boss that you aren’t paid enough, your job responsibilities are beneath your skill level, and that other companies pay their employees more money than you are earning. If you give your employer the impression that you feel dissatisfied with your job, he or she may fire you before you have found another career choice. Actions speak louder than words; your body language at work reveals a lot about how you feel. Always aim to act pleasantly and professionally at work, even if you aren’t feeling up to it. Engage your boss in conversations centered on your profession, and don’t tell him information that will cause them to question your commitment to helping the company grow and thrive.
