By Dave Smith, The Ultimate Retirement Coach
Workplaces thrive on teamwork, communication, and connection — but there’s a line between being friendly and being too familiar.
Many careers have been quietly derailed not because of poor performance, but because of what was shared in casual conversation.
Here are 7 things you should never discuss or share with co-workers, no matter how well you think you know them.
Talking about money feels empowering — until it backfires.
Sharing what you make can create tension, jealousy, or resentment among co-workers. Even worse, it can make you look unprofessional in the eyes of management.
💡 Better Approach: If you want to know if you’re being paid fairly, research salary ranges online or talk privately with HR — not at the lunch table.
Few topics divide faster than politics and religion.
Even small comments can alienate someone who thinks differently. You may not intend harm, but others can interpret your words as bias or judgment.
💡 Better Approach: Keep workplace discussions focused on shared goals, not personal ideologies.
It might feel good to vent, but gossip spreads like wildfire.
One overheard remark about leadership, coworkers, or company policies can brand you as “negative” — even if you were just frustrated in the moment.
💡 Better Approach: Address real concerns through proper channels, not the break room.
Your mortgage, debt, investments, or side hustles might seem like casual topics — but they can lead to unwanted judgment or assumptions.
Coworkers may view you differently based on your financial situation — and that rarely works in your favor.
💡 Better Approach: Keep financial discussions at home or with your financial advisor.
Your coworkers are not your therapists.
Sharing too much about your relationship, family drama, or health issues can make people uncomfortable — or even become fodder for gossip.
💡 Better Approach: Maintain professional boundaries. It’s fine to be human, but don’t overshare.
Thinking about leaving your job? Keep it quiet until your plans are final.
Even casual remarks about “looking around” can travel fast — and once management hears it, your opportunities and trust may shrink quickly.
💡 Better Approach: Talk career moves with your mentor or partner, not coworkers.
If someone confides in you, protect that trust.
Sharing another person’s personal or professional details — even unintentionally — damages your reputation far more than theirs.
💡 Better Approach: Treat every private conversation as confidential, even after you leave the company.
Your reputation is your most valuable workplace currency.
Every conversation, post, and casual comment shapes how others perceive you — and ultimately, the opportunities you attract.
Before sharing something personal, ask yourself:
Is this helpful or necessary for work?
Could this change how someone perceives me professionally?
Would I be comfortable if this was shared publicly?
If the answer isn’t a confident “yes,” it’s best left unsaid.
About the Author
Dave Smith, The Ultimate Retirement Coach, helps professionals make confident life and money decisions — long before retirement day arrives.
Visit www.LeapRetirement.com to discover more tools for building a work life and future you won’t regret.