20121010-123500.jpg

It’s illegal to discriminate but it is not however to give someone less responsibility. It is no illegal to discriminate based on skill set. For the workplace the government has set very transparent laws into place that protect you from discrimination. That said there are Office Rules that stay within the law but still serve the same purpose as discrimination. As a working adult you learn very early on how to work within these rules. That does not mean you can not speak your mind. However, you don’t want to share everything you do with your workplace. Your work/Life balance needs to be clearly defined. Your boss is not your friend. To clarify, that does not mean you can not be friends. What I am saying is that while at work.

That is your BOSS. What you did last night does not and should not be a topic covered in your round tables or stand ups in the morning. If you have them on Facebook you might want to limit what they can see. In fact Twitter and Instagram are slowly getting more traction than Facebook. You might want to block your boss. This is not be rude but proactive protection. What happens when you need to vent after a long day of work. That picture you posted might have been cute to you but not so much to your co-workers. Nothing can stop ideas from forming anyway. Why should you help them along. Let’s be clear, decisions that are made based upon details of an employee’s personal life. Would you promote a father of a baby that comes to work half asleep or a person who is in a very stable always on time. Would you promote a manager that has years of experience or the new kid that has the technical skill but lacks any management training. Favoritism and personal relationships play into these decisions. Revealing private information to your boss may seem like a way to bond but DON’T. At the end of the day you must remember that is your boss. You could inadvertently set yourself back when it comes to a raise or promotion; assuming you had an opportunity to apply for said job. That however is another issue altogether. To help you with success in the work place., keep the following yourself.

I. Side Hustle

1st thing I should make clear is that everyone has a another job or as us New Yorkers call it; side hustle. Freelance positions are as long as they do not conflict with your main job. The question I ask myself is; Is this a client that my present employer would do business with and would I be serving the same function? Your business should stay your business not take away from your company’s business. The non-competition agreements and policies are pretty black and white. If you don’t know yours, you should go to HR right away and find out. Your boss is not the person to ask in this case. Telling your boss about other work obligations might not fly and at the same time give an excuse to question your work ethic.

II. Politics

Your political affiliation should stay your private information. Common sense.

III. Home/Work/Play

What you did last night has nothing to do with what you are doing now today at work unless you were taking classes to better you skills set. Work is not like the show The Office. Keep the drama at home. IF you can not make it to work or can’t get an assignment complete due to home or social life, keep it to yourself. Simply state you had other obligations.

IV. The Voices

Your friends care about the divorce you’re going through. Your sister wants to hear everything about your baby momma drama. The bartender waiting on each word as you tell her about the breakup. Your therapist generally cares that you’re suffering from depression. You know what these people have in common? They are not your boss. It can feel a bit overwhelming dealing with personal issues and people at work can seem to care but your boss is not that person. They can not help it but they are judging you. It’s their job. Constant evaluation is in the fabric of a leader. Make sure say you are going to the doctor not shrink.The last thing you want is for your boss to interpret a mental illness or personal issues as your inability to do your job.

V. Praise be to YHVH, Adonai, El, Jehovah, Yahweh, God, Lord, Dungi, Great Spirit, Allah

It’s against the law to discriminate against religious beliefs but talking about religion is inappropriate because it is almost impossible to have a conversation about it without offending someone. Not everyone is religious and work is not a church. If you feel that your job violates a religious belief, you should speak up or look for another job. However for everyone else as a safe bet only talk about religious stuff unless you happen to work for a religious organization. [Site note: No, Kristy; a non-profit is not the same as a religious organization.]

VI. Your Personal Sponsor

You should not be talking about anyone’s income at work anyway. That said what your significant other makes is never a topic of conversation. Even if your boss isn’t conscious of making promotions based on anything but skills.Why would you risk even the thought when it comes to your career is concerned.

VII. Cake, Cake, Cake

There’s no reason to disclose your sexual orientation to your boss. Be yourself and don’t be ashamed of who you are. Who you date or decide to marry is your own concern. That said, discrimination is illegal but stereotypes are not. It would suck if a prejudiced boss used that personal information as a way to hamper your career.

VIII. Your car is your home

No one, I say again; NO ONE at work needs to know about your living situation. It does not matter if you live in your car, house with the white picket fence, your mothers well furnished basement or a 12th floor condo. Why? The reason is that it is not your bosses concerned and opens up questions good or bad that you may not want to answer. Such as how did you end up there?

IX. I heard nothing

If your boss has a love of Football, conversations about the sport might help build a bond. The same goes the other way. What ever you boss tells you may not be meant to be shared with the peers you share a floor with. Once you know your boss, you will be able to know which.

X. Silence is Golden

Information is valuable. Your boss only knows what you say. If your boss has personal information on your that is not in your HR files. Than means you chose to share it. If not with your boss, than a co-worker. If you don’t want your boss to know certain information. If it to yourself.

By Rubens Saintel

Proud father, #Haitian, photographer, consultant, writer & entrepreneur. I love video games, movies, plays, technology (surprise), beta testing apps and all things sci-fi. SaintelDaily.com |AppleWatch101.com | NBA101.com