Common traps at the workplace

[phcitywarrior]

Good thread OP

A lot of what’s been said depends on the culture of the company.

I’d say the biggest traps are around fraternizing with colleagues.

If you attend company HH/parties limit yourself to one drink or none at all. Very little upside from those situation but a lot can go wrong. My last team holiday party I was too gone but luckily I didn’t do anything crazy that would come back to bite my ass

After that night I swore of drinking at all company events. I just do zero-proof beers and call it a day. I work with white folks and asians, not tryna mess up my bread.

Definitely don’t smash a coworker, at least not one you work with daily. If y’all are on different teams / different floors or buildings, slightly different story. Still thread carefully.

Be friendly and civil but don’t overshare. There’s a fine line between oversharing and being a recluse. One of my mentors told me to have a “box” of safe topics to talk about. Sports, family/kids, hobbies, what you did over the weekend etc.

Get a paper trail for everything.

 

[OperationNumbNutts]

Self traps:
1. Not leaving or planning an exit once your hiring manager leaves.
2. Staying at a job too long.
3. Expressing political or social opinions.
4. Not leaving when you know management doesn't give a shyt on fixing problems.

 

[Peruvian Connect]

Boss: "I have an open door policy" translation "Please tell me everything. I welcome snitching on yourself or your co workers"

"Can you work in a fast-paced environment?" translation "Will you work extra hours unpaid?"

"We treat our company like a family" translation "We expect you to do work for free and not complain"

Having more than 2 drinks at any gathering = You're probably gonna be in trouble for some shyt the next day

What are some other common traps people fall into at work?

"Can you work in a fast-paced environment?" translation Are you willing to do the job of 2 to 3 people for your same salary

 

[keond]

All good advice. nikkas are like mercenaries in this thread. The funny thing is, i know so many folks that met their wife at their job and their circle of friends are former co-workers. I get where folks are going in here, but ill be damned if thats not what i see in real life. There is alot of fraternizing that goes on. If you are in a position of power. 6 figure nikka, dont shyt where you eat at. But if yall are both cashiers at Target you dont have to act like your Gordon Gecko.

 

[Peruvian Connect]

All good advice. nikkas are like mercenaries in this thread. The funny thing is, i know so many folks that met their wife at their job and their circle of friends are former co-workers. I get where folks are going in here, but ill be damned if thats not what i see in real life. There is alot of fraternizing that goes on. If you are in a position of power. 6 figure nikka, dont shyt where you eat at. But if yall are both cashiers at Target you dont have to act like your Gordon Gecko.

Depends on the industry.

 

[feelosofer]

As someone who has navigated corporate America for about 20 years before striking out on my own as a Black man (not that I am special in the grand scheme of things) here's what I learned.

1) NEVER BE LATE. In fact be 10 minutes early. Sounds basic but I have seen brothers lose 6 figure jobs over a lack of discipline.

2) Don't date women at work or at least not in a department you work in or have adjacency to. It never ends well even if it is fun for a while. Work. Go home

3) At work events/parties that involve alcohol. 2 drinks max.

4) Keep any and all white people at arms length. Most of them are spies.

5) Don't do any extra work beyond your scope of responsibility

6) No such thing as an anonymous survey.

 

[summwunn]

Good thread OP

A lot of what’s been said depends on the culture of the company.

I’d say the biggest traps are around fraternizing with colleagues.

If you attend company HH/parties limit yourself to one drink or none at all. Very little upside from those situation but a lot can go wrong. My last team holiday party I was too gone but luckily I didn’t do anything crazy that would come back to bite my ass

After that night I swore of drinking at all company events. I just do zero-proof beers and call it a day. I work with white folks and asians, not tryna mess up my bread.

Definitely don’t smash a coworker, at least not one you work with daily. If y’all are on different teams / different floors or buildings, slightly different story. Still thread carefully.

Be friendly and civil but don’t overshare. There’s a fine line between oversharing and being a recluse. One of my mentors told me to have a “box” of safe topics to talk about. Sports, family/kids, hobbies, what you did over the weekend etc.

Get a paper trail for everything.

.... one time at a previous job they held an 'employee appreciation' at one of those Main Event spots . . . this managing-director who was way past his prime comes outta nowhere in the bowling alley section holding a pitcher of beer in each hand . . already beyond fukked up .. . he walks down a random lane where people were in the middle of a game . . .. . turns around in slow-motion and chugs one of the pitchers and then pours the other one over his head and lets out this weak animal roar like he's Will Ferrells character in Old School . . .. . two security guards appeared and snatched him up and he starts having a temper-tantrum .. screaming "Shannon Where Are Yooooouuuu !?!?!!!! . . . Why Wont You Just Fukk Me Again ?!!!" with tears running down his beet-red face . .. "Shannon" was his male boss . . .. this was a Friday evening. . . .. on Monday morning we got an email saying that both of them had decided to retire effective immediately . ..

 

[phcitywarrior]

2) Don't date women at work or at least not in a department you work in or have adjacency to. It never ends well even if it is fun for a while. Work. Go home

3) At work events/parties that involve alcohol. 2 drinks max.

No 3 especially. I nearly found out the hard way. Whole team did shots at our team holiday party and I joined em

Didn’t do or say anything crazy after but I deff said some things that would be better kept to myself.

Luckily it was just a few of us and they were also pretty drunk so not sure how much people remembered.

 

[thenatural]

1. Vehicle jealousy is real. Had a lead that was good with remembering names, but if someone mentioned this one guy from another tech unit, he'd always bring up his car.
Me: "Spoke to Blah Blah today about some extra funding avail--"

Him (before I can finish the damn sentence): "Doesn't he drive that expensive Mercedes? I wonder how he pays for that? I looked up the MSRP. I'm sorry, finish what you were saying."

2. Stay away from the gossip. For some reason, nosey people love talking to the ones that only want to work and go home.

3. If you're fukking someone in the company, understand the risks.

4. Everything @OperationNumbNutts said, especially #1. The next manager doesn't know you and has zero incentive to retain you unless have a critical skill.

5. Taking on extra work usually never shows up in a raise. If you're going to do it, make sure it's something new to add to your professional repotoire and not to look good to management.

6. "Open and honest feedback and communication" is paid lip service when a company is thriving and a red flag when they're struggling.

7. "Self-starter" means don't expect formal training and figure it out by any means.

 

[Gyasi85]

... in my very early 20s i was pushin a brand-new Lex and this manager who i didnt even report to - he had a basic 3-series (used) and out of nowhere one day i get called into this conference room where he's sitting there looking all smug with some uptight HR bytch.... he says "i know what your pay-grade makes - do you want to explain how you got that car ?" ... with an emotionless tone i told him "which one - i have three" . . . his face turned a shade of red i never seen before . ..