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Words to live by, not only is HR not your friend, your boss is not your friend either.
Common sense, sure, but we live in different times.
I don't know if that's common sense to many. When I joined the workforce, and to this day, depending on who I talk to, I'm encouraged to go to HR with complaints. I already learned the hard way that that doesn't help matters. But some people swear by it.
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6. Other job opportunities that present themselves to you.
In the case of every job I've applied for since accepting my current position, someone called my boss to ask about me. Despite the fact that I was still working there. I once had a company for which I'd only done a short phone interview call my boss and lead him to believe that I was going to be offered another position. Which prompted him to call me into his office. And then said company did not offer me the job. So, I don't know if it's better to leave it be, as Forbes recommends, or give the boss a heads up if they're going to get a call regardless.
I've always had a it of a problem with the "never talk politics, sex, or religion" as a work rule.
Mainly because I believe people should talk about important current events (and I emphasize talk , not scream, preach or proselytize) as a matter of course. When these things are very much in the news -- a presidential election, let's say, or me too sexual and sexual harassment, or black lives matter, or gun control -- and people do not mention them in such casual office conversation that goes on in any particular workplace, I believe that it sets up a dynamic where people are afraid to talk about anything that might offend someone, even when it's job-related. Pretending that contentious things don't exist outside the workplace means that too often people won't openly acknowledge difficult issues with their job or their company because they have internalized a fear of speaking up about important things.
I agree and had this exact experience in a workplace. I also worked somewhere where I became good friends with someone who is my opposite in almost every way, and we somehow managed to discuss politics without it becoming some huge thing. But I will acknowledge that had this coworker discussed those things with someone else, I'm sure that "someone else" would have complained to a manager. It all depends on the people. I don't see why religion and politics should be completely off limits when those two subjects definitely affect our work lives (Right to Work and Hobby Lobby, anyone?)
I don't know if that's common sense to many. When I joined the workforce, and to this day, depending on who I talk to, I'm encouraged to go to HR with complaints. I already learned the hard way that that doesn't help matters. But some people swear by it.
In the case of every job I've applied for since accepting my current position, someone called my boss to ask about me. Despite the fact that I was still working there. I once had a company for which I'd only done a short phone interview call my boss and lead him to believe that I was going to be offered another position. Which prompted him to call me into his office. And then said company did not offer me the job. So, I don't know if it's better to leave it be, as Forbes recommends, or give the boss a heads up if they're going to get a call regardless.
Never let a prospective employer contact your current manager
These are basics, and yes, when I was in my late teens / early 20s, I probably would have not realized that you keep all this type of info away about yourself from your manager at your job.
Only thing I would think to add is:
1. Never discuss politics / sex / or religion at work, particularly with your supervisor(s)/boss(es).
Nailed it. Why some people seem to think these subjects make for good conversations in the workplace is beyond me.
Never let a prospective employer contact your current manager
But not everyone is comfortable checking off "don't contact current employer" or whatever the wording may be. I think to some prospective employees, it makes it sound like you have something to hide.
But not everyone is comfortable checking off "don't contact current employer" or whatever the wording may be. I think to some prospective employees, it makes it sound like you have something to hide.
It's common knowledge that you don't allow a company to call your current job unless a firm offer has been made and you've accepted it. I've heard of new companies calling your old job after you've left, but I don't think that happens very often. Plus, I'm not really sure what they are going to learn from doing that unless they just want to confirm that you really worked there the dates that you said you did.
Similarly when colleagues go out for a company party or a colleague's birthday party, and a few drinks have been drank, inhibitions fall to the way side and personal thoughts come out for all to hear.
^^^^^
This..And the mere fact that it's just colleagues, things have a way of reverting and/or finding themselves back to upper management and HR.
Incidentally, happy hour can be used in a nefarious way to glean and gather various forms of information. I've been to after-work gatherings where otherwise quiet and standoffish people tend to spill a lot when they get enough juice into them.
It's common knowledge that you don't allow a company to call your current job unless a firm offer has been made and you've accepted it. I've heard of new companies calling your old job after you've left, but I don't think that happens very often. Plus, I'm not really sure what they are going to learn from doing that unless they just want to confirm that you really worked there the dates that you said you did.
I rarely hear of a company offering someone a job before calling their current employer. They call current bosses around here to ask how the employee performs. Maybe it's because I'm in the crazy Bayou State.
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