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- Having friends at work can make you more productive.
- One way to make friends is to complain. A recent article in The Cut detailed how positive workplace gossip can lead to friendships and even warn others of difficult managers.
- But gossiping can backfire if not done correctly. Here are some words and phrases you should never say to a coworker.
- Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.
Getting along with your coworkers is a beautiful thing. It can make your workday less dreary, help you focus better, and make you more productive.
While making work friends can be awkward, one way to break the ice is to start complaining.
Complaining about work tasks means you trust the other person not to spill your secrets, and can lead to closer friendships down the line, according to The Cut. One researcher calls productive work gossip “pro-social,” or gossip that can lead to warning your peers about difficult managers or other information that results in more productive work.
Read more: 11 tips to help you move on from a job rejection
Some experts, however, warn against getting too chummy with your coworker. While some lighthearted gossiping can be positive, there are certain phrases or conversations that can make you sound unprofessional (and even harassing).
“In conversation, use a little common sense and discretion, especially when there are others present,” says Rosalinda Oropeza Randall, an etiquette and civility expert and the author of “Don’t Burp in the Boardroom.” “The general guideline is that if you wouldn’t say it in front of your boss, don’t say it.”
Aside from the obvious – like profanity and insults – here are some words and phrases you should never utter to your coworkers:
Don’t ask your coworker how much they get paid
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“This question is not only unprofessional, but awkward,” Randall says. “Why do you want to know? Will you complain to your boss if you find it inequitable? Or will you speak to your boss on your coworker’s behalf insisting they get a raise?”
Don’t ask to borrow
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Most of us have forgotten to bring cash or our wallet to work once or twice. Randall says that in this rare occasion, it might be OK to ask your understanding coworker to borrow some money for lunch.
“But if your wallet is always in your ‘other purse,’ don’t be surprised if you’re excluded from future lunches,” she says.
Stop using the phrase ‘honestly’
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Barbara Pachter, an etiquette expert and author of “The Essentials of Business Etiquette,” says that drawing attention to your honesty at that moment can lead people to wonder, “Aren’t you always honest with me?”
Don’t spread rumors
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“Spread gossip, and you become labeled as a gossip,” says Vicky Oliver, author of “Bad Bosses, Crazy Coworkers & Other Office Idiots” and “Power Sales Words.”
“Negative comments about a coworker to another coworker will make you look worse than the person you’re talking about, and guess who will be the one who looks bad when it gets back to the person you’re talking about?” Randall says.
Don’t tell your coworker you like the way her pants fit on her
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A compliment isn’t against the law, Randall points out, but be selective about what you compliment.
Commenting about a coworker’s physical appearance is considered unprofessional, she says – and worse, could be sexual harassment.
Don’t tell a coworker, ‘You people are always causing problems’
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Topics like religion, politics, and child-rearing sometimes come up in the workplace, Randall says. But to negatively comment about any group is unwise and unprofessional, and it could get you in trouble for harassment.
Never ask a coworker if she’s pregnant
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This question rarely results in a positive outcome.
“If your coworker is not pregnant, you have insulted her,” Oliver says. “If she is pregnant, she probably isn’t ready to discuss it yet. Keep observations like this to yourself.”
Don’t say, ‘I’m sorry to be a bother’
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“Why are you saying you’re a bother?” Pachter asks.
And if you are truly sorry about something you haven’t done yet, why would you go ahead and do it anyway?
“Excuse me. Do you have a moment?” works much better, she says.
Don’t tell your coworkers you are looking for another job, or ask if they know who’s hiring
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“Sharing this with your coworkers may cause them to instinctively distance themselves, knowing you will no longer be a part of the team,” Randall says.
“They also might unintentionally leak the information to your supervisor, which could explain your lack of productivity and absences, resulting in a poor reference or an invitation to pick up your paycheck earlier than you expected,” she says.
Don’t say: ‘See this rash? I’m expecting the lab results tomorrow.’
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“Except for maybe your mom or spouse, no one really wants to see or hear about peculiar rashes or any nausea-inducing medical conditions,” Randall says. “Limit your sharing to a cold or headache.”
Try not to start all of your sentences with ‘I think’
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Saying “I think” is sometimes acceptable, but only if you truly are unsure.
“Using ‘I think’ can make you appear wishy-washy,” Pachter says. When you know something, state it directly: “The meeting will be at 3 pm.”
Don’t tell a coworker you were surprised when she was asked to present
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You might as well say, “It should have been me.”
“The professional response would be, ‘Congratulations,'” Randall says.
Don’t say: ‘Do you mind covering for me while I’m in Bora Bora?’
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Flaunting your luxurious lifestyle with your colleagues may set off a jealousy epidemic, Oliver says. In general, it’s best to avoid bragging about how great your life is.
Don’t ask your coworker if you’re invited to a party you overheard him talk about
“This is the grown-up world – not everyone will be invited to everything,” Randall says. “Besides, are you prepared for the answer?”
Don’t ask a coworker to hook up this weekend
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“If you mean ‘get together,’ then say so,” Randall says. “In some circles, a ‘hook-up’ has a sexual connotation, which could land you in a sexual harassment seminar.”
Don’t tell your coworkers you’re stealing office supplies
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You just admitted to stealing, a cause for termination and, at the very least, loss of trust, Randall says.
Don’t bring up personal relationship issues
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“Intimate details about your personal relationships can divulge unfavorable information about you,” Randall says.
Sharing intimate details about your love life falls into the “too much information” category, she says, and “if it doesn’t enhance your professional image, or enrich workplace relationships, you should keep it to yourself.”
Don’t call your coworker a “credit snatcher”
Maybe your colleague or boss took credit for your work, but carping about the problem to your coworkers rarely helps, Oliver says. Instead, it’s best to address the issue with the person who took credit for your idea.
Don’t ask to borrow deodorant
Really? Sharing is caring and all, but no one at work should be that close.
Don’t tell your coworkers you’re suing the company
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“Whether the charge is legitimate or not, spreading it around will not serve you well – just ask your attorney,” Randall says.
If you’re really suing your employer, it’s best to conduct yourself with discretion and dignity and continue to perform your duties to the best of your ability. If this becomes impossible, you should consider resigning, Randall says.
“But if this is your go-to threat when you’re unhappy about something, stop it!” she says.