If you love your job, chances are, you want to stay there as long as possible! If this is the case, it’s important not to do anything that might compromise your position. 

Although succeeding at work has a lot to do with your skills, effort, and progress, your behavior is also important. Your attitude in the workplace can make a huge difference. 

To maintain the respect of your co-workers and superiors, there are some types of behaviors that simply aren’t acceptable. Here are some of the main ones to avoid at all costs: 

 

1. Anything illegal or immoral 

You should always avoid doing things that are illegal or immoral. Whether it’s in your personal life or at work, if you do something that you know is wrong, it can have serious consequences. 

If you’re not sure about a situation at work or it doesn’t feel right, there’s a strong possibility that your instincts are right. In this case, you should always turn to your superiors for advice. 

At the end of the day, you never want to risk your job over something illegal or morally incorrect. It can tarnish your reputation and career for a very long time and it’s just not worth the risk. 

 

2. Gossip or spread rumors

Some people love to gossip. But, it can be harmful to workplace morale, especially if the conversations are about the people working around you. 

You should never gossip or make up false stories about people you work with, and you should avoid co-workers who do this. It can cause serious problems for you and simply isn’t worth it!

 

3. Go to work when contagious 

When you’re unwell, you may feel like you should go in anyway. However, doing this when you know you’re contagious won’t impress your bosses and it’s not fair on your colleagues. 

If you’re ill and might spread germs around the office, try and avoid going to work. You might be able to work from home, so call up your superiors and see if this is an option first. 

 

4. Drink too much alcohol 

Drinking too much alcohol is a big no career-wise. If you’re at your place of work, you shouldn’t be consuming alcohol during work hours. It will be frowned upon by your superiors and, in some cases, it might be against your company’s code of conduct. 

Not only this, but it can affect your ability to do your job. Even if you’re at a work event that serves alcohol, it’s best to limit your intake. This will help you to remain professional in front of your co-workers and employers. 

 

5. Steal your co-workers’ food 

Work kitchens are usually shared spaces. This means that you must be respectful of other people’s personal items. Stealing people’s food will often mean offending and upsetting people, and it’s totally unacceptable! 

Make sure you bring in your own food and label it as yours. If you don’t bring in food, you will need to buy your lunch – it’s much better than angering your co-workers! 

 

6. Talk about politics 

Everyone has their own political views, some of which are very strong. And, a healthy, respectful conversation about politics can be great. But, this should never be done in the workplace. 

It’s very important to try and keep politics out of the workplace as much as possible. As you probably know, it can often lead to arguments. This can lead to animosity and segregation between employees, which is not the kind of working environment people want! 

 

7. Be rude or disrespectful 

At work, it’s important to cultivate a positive space for people to work. To do this, you need to make sure you’re not rude or disrespectful to anyone and are polite to co-workers. This isn’t a playground – you need to be professional at all times! 

This also applies to your manager and other superiors. Even if you disagree with them, remember, they are in their position for a reason. Never ignore direct orders. If you have a problem, try and address it assertively whilst remaining courteous. 

 

8. Bully or harass others 

Bullying and harassment can cause an enormous amount of harm to other people, both physically and mentally. Not only is it unethical, it will do serious damage to your career. 

In a workplace, you need to treat everyone with respect, even if you don’t like them. You should never bully others. And, if you see someone else doing the bullying, you should report it to your superiors as soon as possible. 

 

9. Disclose company secrets 

Disclosing private or confidential information about your company, colleagues, clients, or customers is completely irresponsible. 

You should never share this type of information with anyone, even if you’re sure they won’t say anything. Doing this can result in serious penalties and, in some cases, you might even lose your job. 

 

10. Lie to make yourself look good 

Lastly, you should never lie to make yourself look good. Creating false information to impress people isn’t worth putting your job in danger, and it definitely won’t earn their respect. 

The better alternative is to focus on working hard, completing your tasks to a high standard, and being productive and helpful. This is a much better use of your time, and you will know that your efforts are genuinely worthy of praise. 

If you’re doing something at work and you’re not sure it’s acceptable, there’s a good chance it isn’t. Always be smart about your actions and practice respect in the workplace. 

By doing this, you can contribute to a positive atmosphere with better morale. This will make you much more successful in the long-run!

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