Various companies differ in opinion as to what they consider to be unacceptable practices in the work place. But here are the top seven that most would agree could really get you into trouble.
- Blame someone else for your mistakes. This gets immediate negative attention from both your co-workers and management. It tells them that you are irresponsible and not a positive team player.
- Send offensive E-mails to co-workers. When complaints get to management that you are forwarding sexually explicit E-mails or warnings that could be interpreted as threats, it could be grounds for your dismissal. Most companies have disclaimers on their computers that open to the workers at the onset of each day warning them of the consequence of this violation.
- Arrive late and leave early. This shows your co-workers that you believe that you are more important than they are, and that you are not subject to the same requirements as the rest of the staff. If they have to cover for you or help you complete your work, this could have a negative impact on your continued employment when the complaints get to management.
- Steal from the company. You may not be taking large, expensive items but when it's learned that you have been taking small office supplies or small amounts of petty cash that you didn't think were a big deal, most companies will dismiss you immediately because they view you as dishonest, untrustworthy and disloyal.
- Use improper language. Most companies maintain a proper, respectable language code, not only with their customers, but within their employed staff. Using profanity or swear words at work shows that you are disrespectful and unconcerned about its degrading effects on those around you, and it's a good reason for reprimand.
- Flirt with your co-workers and socialize on company time. Many of the staff could take offence because you are not doing your work, which indirectly affects theirs, and the company could view this as stealing time and not fulfilling the responsibility you were hired for. You would get a warning from your supervisor and if you didn't stop, it could lead to dismissal.
- Make a lot of personal phone calls. Your co-workers will get their backs up if they are busy trying to keep up the pace of the workload while you seem to always be on the phone with personal calls. Management takes a dim view to this abuse of their time and money.
In most cases, it's the staff members who will raise the first flags and bring these offences to your attention. But if you ignore their suggestions and it gets to management, that's when you could really be in trouble.
