Keep Personal Info Personal
Discrimination in the workplace is illegal. It's also despicable and
certainly not anything we condone. In an ideal world, the details of our
personal lives wouldn't matter nearly as much as our performance and
productivity on the job. But the cold, hard truth is employers may still
make decisions based upon details of an employee's life.
From judging workers based on Facebook photos to thinking twice about promoting someone with kids or a chronic illness when another employee is free of those obligations or difficulties, there are kinds of potential pitfalls. By revealing some private information to your boss, you could set yourself back when it comes to a raise or promotion.
Obviously every workplace is different and bosses will vary. If you have an understanding manager who sees the value in knowing employees on a personal level, this article probably won't apply to you. But if you're not that lucky, you may wish to keep the following details about your life private if you want to maximize your success.
If you can't complete an after-hours work task due to a hot date or helping kids with homework, it's best to simply indicate that you have other obligations at home. Keep the personal drama at home.
If your job duties entail something that violates a religious belief, you should speak up. You do not necessarily need to be specific with your boss; you can simply indicate that the task at hand violates one of your beliefs. If possible, present an alternative or workaround.
We're all entitled to our personal religious beliefs, but remember not everyone is religious and a workplace is not a church. It's all about common sense. A Bible quote on your cubicle is no big deal, but proselytizing and trying to convert your coworkers is going to ruffle a few feathers and could potentially put your job security on shaky ground.
Your political affiliation should remain private information. For a myriad of reasons. First of all, you risk offending coworkers and your boss while creating an uncomfortable work environment. But more important, once a boss knows about your affiliation, you could be judged as too open or closed-minded for a particular job. Even if your boss treats you equally, political prejudices still exist and could easily work against you.
From judging workers based on Facebook photos to thinking twice about promoting someone with kids or a chronic illness when another employee is free of those obligations or difficulties, there are kinds of potential pitfalls. By revealing some private information to your boss, you could set yourself back when it comes to a raise or promotion.
Obviously every workplace is different and bosses will vary. If you have an understanding manager who sees the value in knowing employees on a personal level, this article probably won't apply to you. But if you're not that lucky, you may wish to keep the following details about your life private if you want to maximize your success.
10. Night Life
Whether you're reading bedtime stories to your kids or hitting the bars every night, your boss shouldn't know anything about your night life unless it includes taking classes in your field or doing extra work from home or your favorite cafe.If you can't complete an after-hours work task due to a hot date or helping kids with homework, it's best to simply indicate that you have other obligations at home. Keep the personal drama at home.
9. Religious Beliefs
It's against the law to discriminate against religious beliefs, but talking about religion too often at work is inappropriate (unless you work for a religious organization).If your job duties entail something that violates a religious belief, you should speak up. You do not necessarily need to be specific with your boss; you can simply indicate that the task at hand violates one of your beliefs. If possible, present an alternative or workaround.
We're all entitled to our personal religious beliefs, but remember not everyone is religious and a workplace is not a church. It's all about common sense. A Bible quote on your cubicle is no big deal, but proselytizing and trying to convert your coworkers is going to ruffle a few feathers and could potentially put your job security on shaky ground.
8. Political Affiliation
The quickest way to alienate people in a mixed crowd is to talk about politics.Your political affiliation should remain private information. For a myriad of reasons. First of all, you risk offending coworkers and your boss while creating an uncomfortable work environment. But more important, once a boss knows about your affiliation, you could be judged as too open or closed-minded for a particular job. Even if your boss treats you equally, political prejudices still exist and could easily work against you.
7. Spouse's Income
You might be wondering why this is on the list, but trust us -- your boss shouldn't know about your spouse's income.
If your spouse is CEO of a successful company and a coworker vying for a job has an unemployed spouse your boss is aware of, you could lose out on a promotion even though you're equally qualified because it may seem as though you don't "need" the promotion. Even if your boss isn't conscious of that information playing a part in his/her decision, you don't want to take any chances where your career is concerned.
Read more at www.salary.com
Source: Salary
If your spouse is CEO of a successful company and a coworker vying for a job has an unemployed spouse your boss is aware of, you could lose out on a promotion even though you're equally qualified because it may seem as though you don't "need" the promotion. Even if your boss isn't conscious of that information playing a part in his/her decision, you don't want to take any chances where your career is concerned.
6. You're Working Another Job
Many people work second jobs, including freelance positions. But your other business should stay your business.
Companies often develop and expand non-competition agreements and policies instructing employees to retain only one job. As your company could implement such a policy at any time, you should avoid telling your boss about other work obligations so you can continue to fly under the radar and make ends meet.
Not to mention, if you have an annual review with your boss and he/she cites a decrease in your performance, your boss could easily point the finger at the time and energy you're spending working at the second job. Don't give anyone any excuses to question your work ethic.
Companies often develop and expand non-competition agreements and policies instructing employees to retain only one job. As your company could implement such a policy at any time, you should avoid telling your boss about other work obligations so you can continue to fly under the radar and make ends meet.
Not to mention, if you have an annual review with your boss and he/she cites a decrease in your performance, your boss could easily point the finger at the time and energy you're spending working at the second job. Don't give anyone any excuses to question your work ethic.
Read more at www.salary.com
Source: Salary