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29 March 2024

5 bad workplace habits that will get you fired... in the UAE

Published
By Shuchita Kapur

Very few people in this world would actually want to get fired. 

Most of us join an organisation to earn our living, get up the career ladder and grow as a professional. And to strive towards this goal, we work hard.

However, intentionally or unintentionally, we may jeopardise all that and risk getting fired because of some bad habits that are simply avoided. 

These range from unacceptable office pranks to physical altercations, but some everyday habits that may seem harmless can invite big trouble, including being fired. Here are the ones to consciously avoid.

#1 Dishonesty is the worst policy

Lying or withholding the complete truth may be a human trait, but doing so constantly can land you in trouble at the workplace. Dishonesty, in all its forms, is detested in any professional setting so it is best avoid. Be true to your peers and managers even if it puts you in negative light in the short term.

Lying repeatedly can give a very bad impression and you may lose your job. Lies could be on your CV like hiding facts in your job history or adding details that were never there, trying to fudge your targets or just about anything that involves your job. One-worded advice: avoid.

#2 Gossiping in the corridors

This may seem like a harmless trait until the time your superiors are unaware of it. It’s quite likely that your talks will focus on what you assume are the bad policies of the company or the incompetency of your colleagues or managers.

Never underestimate the power of Chinese whispers and when – not if – such things get passed on to the boss, you may land in serious trouble. The best policy is that when you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.

#3 Being the bad apple

In any given office, staff is expected to be good team players and the last thing a boss would want is one of them trying to influence others in a bad way.

For example, reporting late to work, not finishing your assignments, having a callous attitude and disrespect towards others can set a bad example for others, who may come around to believing that such behaviour is acceptable.

Your boss may tolerate this initially but if you don’t mend your ways in the long run, you are likely to be shown the door.

#4 Job-hunting while at work

You may be disillusioned with your job or may be looking for greener pastures. Well, most employees are, for a number of reasons, but that doesn’t give you an excuse to look for a job while you are at work.

Even if you hate your job, be true to it till the time you are employed there. Once you are home, you can continue with you job search. If your boss gets to know that you are on the look-out for another job, guess what – you may no longer have that job you hate so much.

#5 Being lazy and lethargic

We all have our days and there are times when it’s difficult to even get the simplest of tasks done. Bosses are human too, and they will tolerate that once in a while. But if it becomes a habit, you may end up becoming a liability for the company.

You cannot afford to be unproductive all the time for whatever reasons you may have. If you’re not getting your work done, you’re just costing your employer money and nobody will keep you if you just don’t want to work.