You've Got to Be Kidding!: How to Keep Your Job Without Losing Your Integrity

More Unwritten Rules “Everyone Should Just Know”

• Be discreet in all conversations, in all locations. Cultivate self-restraint by asking, “Would my boss approve of this conversation if he overheard it?” It is surprisingly easy to make a slip during a lunch conversation and divulge confidential information without even realizing you’re doing so. Haven’t we all wished that we could retract or cover up a careless comment at one time or another? There was also the story of the employee who overheard in the elevator that her entire department was being laid off the following month! Was it true? It really doesn’t matter, does it? The damage was done, and as a result, the whole department was thrown into turmoil.
• Avoid “war stories.” It’s tempting to share interesting stories with your peers about clients and/or coworkers. These seemingly innocent tales, however, can hurt your career because you can never be certain who knows who. Another true story—this one from a partner in a CPA firm: As an accountant named Penny took a break at a client’s office, she chatted casually with the bookkeeper. She mentioned a recent visit to an unnamed client where she had discovered an embezzlement scheme and brought it to the owner’s attention. Although Penny thought she took care to conceal the client’s identity, unbeknownst to her, the bookkeeper was a relative of a salesperson at the problem company. Penny shared enough details that the bookkeeper was able to determine exactly who was being discussed. ...