Millions of people admit to
committing these workplace no-nos every day.
When is
falling asleep or knocking back a stiff drink just not OK? When you do it at
the office (or behind the wheel). But each day millions of people commit these
workplace taboos--and even more-scandalous ones.
But not
all workplace no-nos are created equal, in terms of seriousness or
consequences, says executive recruiter and career counselor Bruce Hurwitz:
"Some taboos can be forgiven or raise concerns about your well-being. Others
can result in immediate dismissal."
A Harris
Interactive Poll of 5,700 U.S. workers found people confessing to all sorts of
questionable behavior at the office. Here are some of the top workplace taboos
they admitted to:
1.
Falling asleep at work (45 percent)
Need a personal barista to help you stay awake at work? Snoozing on the job
looks downright unprofessional and is generally not appreciated by employers.
If you
find yourself drifting off on a regular basis, it may mean that you need a more
stimulating and engaging career. Take a free career
test to find your ideal job.
2.
Kissing a coworker (39 percent)
This number shouldn't come as a big surprise to anyone who has spent time in an
office setting. According to a Valentine's Day survey of more than 8,000
workers, 40 percent have dated a coworker--about the same number that have
kissed.
3.
Stealing from the office (22 percent)
Ever wonder where people get the office supplies they use at home? Chances are
pretty good they pilfer at least some of them from work. While the Harris
survey indicates that only about one-fifth of workers take office supplies, an
OfficeMax Workplace Uncovered survey reveals what's probably closer to the
truth: a whopping 56 percent of workers confessed to taking office supplies
home. Top items were pens, pencils, and
highlighters.
4.
Taking credit for someone else's work (2 percent)
Stealing pencils from the office is one thing. Stealing ideas from a colleague
and passing them off as your own is quite another. Only 2 percent of employees
in the Harris survey admitted doing this. But in a survey by OfficeTeam, nearly
30 percent of workers say they've had their ideas stolen at work. (The huge
gulf between the figures may be because this is a pretty hard taboo to admit;
it's easier to talk about when you're the victim.) Keeping your supervisor
informed of your ideas and your progress is good preventative medicine, say
career experts.
5.
Spreading a rumor about a coworker (22 percent)
While some office gossip is relatively harmless, spreading a rumor can be
damaging not only to the subject but also to the rumor-monger. In addition to
making you seem untrustworthy or downright devious, spreading rumors can even
lead to a lawsuit. Whether you publish a falsehood verbally, in writing, or on
the Internet, you could end up faceing a pricey defamation suit.
6.
Consuming alcoholic beverages while on the job (21 percent)
There was a time when keeping a bottle in your desk drawer was almost de
rigueur in some professions. (Just watch any episode of "Mad Men.")
Now most companies have a zero-tolerance policy for tippling in the office.
Still,
more than one-fifth of the Harris survey respondents said they'd enjoyed booze
while on the job. A recent TV news investigation found that drinking on the job
was all too common among some New York
City construction workers. One worker they witnessed
knocked back six cocktails in 30 minutes!
7.
Snooping (18 percent)
While it's legal for many managers to access employees' company emails and
instant messages, not all office snoopers go through legitimate channels. Nearly
one-fifth of survey respondents said they'd snooped around the office after
hours.
The best
way to foil these snoops? Log off your computer when you're not there, change
passwords frequently, have a clean-desk policy so there's nothing to find, and
use a paper shredder for anything you'd like to keep from prying eyes.
8.
Lying about an academic background (4 percent)
It seems every time you turn around there's another story in the news about a
power player tumbling off the corporate or academic ladder because of lying
about education on a resume. Just recently a top TexasA&MUniversity official
resigned after it was revealed that he didn't have the doctorate his resume
listed and that he hadn't been a Navy Seal.
If you
are concerned that you don't have enough education to meet your career goals,
earning a real degree is a far better bet than lying about one on your resume. Take
an education test to find out if
more schooling could help you to advance your career.
And don't
be tempted to lie on your resume. Experts say at some point it will probably
catch up with you. Instead use a resume builder for help creating
an accurate, impressive resume that gets results.