Do you know any office hotshot? Easy… They’re sharp, funny, hip, cool and make the job look effortless. If anyone’s headed for the top, it’s this person, right? So why did they just walk into the elevator while holding a box of personal effects? What have they done wrong? Well, regardless of their smarts, they made a dumb decision that cost them their job. Here are some examples of the simple decisions that could have you following the hotshot to the unemployment office.
Spending the Company Dime on Personal Time
You get paid to do your job. You don’t get paid to read and send personal emails or check your Facebook, right? Yet so many employees do these things while they should be working. Many companies are cracking down on this kind of behavior. They have the ability to track how much time you spend online, what sites you go to, or how many personal phone calls you make from your work phone. While they may not call you out on it right away, you’re giving them an airtight excuse to fire you down the road. It wold be a wise decision to save your personal business for your personal time.
Facebook Follies
Pretty much everyone with computer access has a Facebook account, but few realize that by listing where they work on their profile, they become a public representative of their company. Any public missteps can come back to bite you in a big way if a complaint is sent to your bosses as well as yourself. Many people have lost their jobs in recent years for posting offensive material while having their work information listed on their profiles. So if you like being controversial, a smart decision would be to keep your job info off your profile.
CC vs. BCC
Email addresses are a hot commodity for spammers and trollers but you can keep your email address and others’ addresses from getting into the wrong hands by BCC-ing people when you send them emails. This also prevents people in the email thread from emailing each other. It would be a smart decision to consider your contacts before you copy them on an email thread.
Gossip Gets You Nowhere Fast
In a close-knit work environment, it’s hard not to fall into the gossip trap. But, regardless of how juicy interoffice news may be, you can never truly tell who is talking to whom, who has your back covered, and who will gladly throw you under the bus for a shot at your paycheck. Gossiping can be grounds for dismissal if the subject matter is considered confidential, slanderous or damaging. So cover your assets and make the decision to keep it G-rated at all times.
I found this article quite enlightening! It highlights essential aspects of workplace behavior that many might overlook. The reminder about using personal time wisely is particularly relevant. Thanks for shedding light on these potential pitfalls!
I have to disagree with some points made here. The idea that companies track personal time online seems invasive and overly controlling. Shouldn’t employees have some freedom to manage their work-life balance? This perspective feels outdated.
While the content is straightforward, it serves as a crucial reminder for employees everywhere. Understanding how social media can impact your job is vital in today’s digital age. This post could help someone avoid serious consequences.
_This article provides decent advice for those who seem unaware of workplace etiquette._ However, it feels slightly condescending; surely adults should already know not to mix personal business with their jobs!
Honestly, this article feels a bit patronizing. Who doesn’t know that using work time for personal stuff is wrong? It’s common sense! It’s disappointing to see such basic advice being presented as groundbreaking.
“CC vs. BCC”—this section was super informative! Many people fail to grasp the importance of protecting email addresses in group conversations. It’s a small but significant detail that can save a lot of headaches!
“Keep your job info off Facebook”—great tip! Because if I get fired, I definitely want my friends to know I’m not just sitting at home binge-watching Netflix alone!
‘Don’t use Facebook at work’? Wow, groundbreaking advice! What’s next? Telling us not to wear flip-flops to an interview? It’s almost like you think we’re all clueless about basic professionalism!
“Gossip gets you nowhere fast”—but isn’t that the best part of work life? Who doesn’t love a little drama with their coffee breaks? Just kidding, I’ll keep my mouth shut now…maybe.
*Why do people still gossip at work? It’s like shooting yourself in the foot while wearing rollerblades!* Seriously though, keeping things G-rated should be common sense, but maybe they need reminders like this one!