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spreading rumors and gossips

One sure way to get into trouble is speak ill about the company in public forums, or even private forums. Spreading rumors and gossips, or exposing some scandals of your boss or other top employees of the company can have the same effect. The company might have a whistle blower policy and in most cases would not admit that they are trying to curb your freedom of speech, but the chances are you are on your way out anyway.

5. Trade unionism & office politics

Indulging in office politics is a double-edged sword. If you play your cards right you might temporarily get ahead. However, such victory would be bitter and you would create more enemies than friends, and it would only be a matter of time before someone else gets gain an advantage over on you and takes revenge on you. If you back the wrong horse, you are doomed anyway.

Most companies view trade unionism with disfavor and if they come to know you are active trade unionist, they would invariably make things difficult for you and try to ease you out.

6. Disharmony with co-workers and sexual harassment

How you maintain your relation with co-workers plays an important role in sustaining your job. Instances of sexual harassment, rude behavior with colleagues, deceit of co-workers, threatening, intimidating or assaulting others, and similar cases would be looked upon seriously by the company. The first instances can lead to a severe reprimand, but repeat instances would definitely lead to termination of service.

7. Failure to adhere to company policies

All companies expect their employees to obey all rules and regulations to the letter.

Failure to obey instructions of supervisors, or standard company policy like dress code, safety instructions, legal procedures, reporting relationships and the like, and coming to work in an inebriated condition can all cause problems for you at work. Repeated instances can lead to termination from the job.

8. Lateness, leave abuse, extended breaks

Employers condone up to a point the employee being late to work, leaving the office early, taking too many breaks, or taking extended lunch breaks, leave abuses, or calling in sick. However, when the employee starts to exploit the situation and commits the same mistakes repeatedly, he would soon be marked for termination at the earliest possible opportunity.

9. Seeking employment elsewhere

Very often, if you start looking elsewhere and word gets out, you are marked. The company would not invest any more amount of time to train you or nurture your skills, and you would always be looked with suspicion. Your attitude and commitment might also become suspect and your boss would expect you to leave at the earliest.

10. Incompetence

Ironically, when it comes to pure performance related issues; many companies give a long rope. They condone work related mistakes initially and might even put you in for some training programs. However, even giving you repeated opportunities and investing time, money, and effort on you, your performance is still below the expected level, you would have to leave.

Inability to adjust with the team, speaking in a rude or offensive manner with customers, refusing to do something that is not in your job description, having an ego or attitude problem at work, not adhering to any reasonable command of your superiors are all considered work related issues, and repeated issues can put your job in peril.

Learn more about this author, Nayab Naseer.
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