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20 things to avoid saying to your coworkers, even if you’re work besties
Being friends with your coworkers can be great, but it can get you in trouble if you don’t keep things professional at work.
By Marguerite Ward and Allana Akhtar
Getting along with your coworkers is a great thing. It can make your workday less dreary, help you focus better, and make you more productive, surveys have shown.
But be careful how you form work friendships. While it might be tempting to bond over office gossip, stories from revelrous weekend nights, or venting sessions, it’s important to know what’s OK and what isn’t.
“In conversation, use a little common sense and discretion, especially when there are others present,” Rosalinda Oropeza Randall, an etiquette expert and the author of “Don’t Burp in the Boardroom,” wrote in her book. “The general guideline is that if you wouldn’t say it in front of your boss, don’t say it.”
Don’t ask to borrow money
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…
