On the Job by Anita Bruzzese Learning to Mind Your Own Business

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese Learning to Mind Your Own Business The report was just sitting there, almost under your nose. OK, so it was on the bosss desk and you were sitting a few feet away, but you have really good eyesight and the ability to read upside down so it wasnt really your fault you read a co-workers recent performance evaluation, was it?And it wasnt really snooping when you were looking for a pencil in a colleagues desk and came across her pay stub your eyes just accidentally happened to focus on how much she makes a month.But chances are if someone took a peek at your performance evaluation or looked at your paycheck without your permission, you would probably be a little angry or upset. While we all delight in having the lives of celebrities exposed in all their demented ways, its not nearly so enjoyable when our private information is exposed to those at work.And heres another consideration: Some companies have strict policies on what employees may or may not discuss, and blabbing that you know what someone else earns or revea ling confidential details of a co-workers performance evaluation could cause the boss to take disciplinary action against you.So, while its true that it makes the workplace more enjoyable when were all friendly with one another and perhaps share some personal information, the key is to remember that we all deserve dignity and privacy, and that should temper our actions. Some ways to do that include:1. Locking your desk. This also includes your files during lunch or at the end of the day, or when youre going to be away for a certain amount of time, such as in a meeting. Dont keep personal information such as your pay stubs or health information at work. Take them home and file in a secure cabinet.2. Using a paper shredder at work. Avoid putting confidential information into a recycling bin if it has not been shredded first. Personally shred your own information and dont rely on someone else to do it.3. Reading carefully. When receiving internal mail, always make sure your name is o n the front before opening, even if it was hand-delivered to you. NEVER peek inside an envelope to someone else, and NEVER snoop in someone else's e-mail.4. Standing firm. Unless you receive a supervisors permission, do not allow anyone to have access to information that you consider confidential.5. Resist being too friendly. When attending a company function, ask your significant other not to reveal too many personal details about you. Its one thing for your husband to tell them you love fishing another to reveal that youre about to default on your mortgage. At the same time, dont try and corner the bosss partner to try and find out the inside scoop on the manager. Thats unfair and unprofessional.