by Eric Bailey

Created on: February 05, 2010   Last Updated: February 06, 2010

Generally, people want to avoid getting in big trouble at work. After all, doing so makes them more likely to retain their position, continue receiving paychecks, and have a better overall standing in the workplace. However, sometimes people fail to avoid bad habits simply due to a lack of awareness; to that end, the following is a handy list of things that should be avoided, lest you end up in big trouble at work.

1. Murdering Co-Workers

Killing cubicle comrades is typically frowned upon and heavily discouraged. Not only does this reduce the available workforce, but it also tends to cast an emotionally heavy pallor over those who remain, in addition to possibly resulting in a lengthy prison term. Although we may often want to slaughter our fellow office workers, it is best to not actually act on such desires and be content with vivid fantasies.

2. Desk Defecation

Bodily functions, especially related to waste disposal, should remain strictly confined to the restroom facilities. Management tends not to be any more forgiving if workers even keep their defecating to their own desks; where it ends up, when it hits the desk, it also tends to hit the fan.

3. Swearing at Customers

For many organizations, customer service is among the highest priorities, right up there with efficient production, employee morale, and other positive traits. In fact, customer services tends to be one of the more often, visibly highlighted features of a company in its advertising. For this reason of keeping a good reputation, along with the basic fact that it tends to discourage repeat business and thus decrease revenue, it is probably a great idea to avoid exploding in customer's faces and calling them obscene names in an unprovoked rage.

4. Stealing Supplies

Yes, there does exist an unspoken tradition that many office workers will take home a few minor items; a paperclip here, a sheet of paper there. Even these smaller offenses should be avoided as much as possible, though, and once the theft escalates to entire pieces of office furniture, along with the corporate lock boxes, there truly is a serious problem at hand.

5. Habitation

Some bosses gain notoriety, even respect, for working long hours on the job. Their inferiors may even seek to earn their bosses favor by working similar overtime. But when their overzealousness leads to sleeping under the desk, taking sponge baths in the restroom sink, and inviting friends over for evening parties in the stockroom, the habit has gone too far.

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