6 Honest Mistakes That Can Get You Fired
There are so many things that can get good, hard-working people fired. Honest mistakes often carry hard-hitting consequences. A recent study from the ePolicy Institute surveyed more than 300 companies and found that a third of them have fired employees for the misuse of company technology
Companies are so worried about employee abuse of technology that 45% of those surveyed admitted that they track employee technology use
When it comes to reasons for getting fired, digital faux pas
“The real problem is not whether machines think but whether men do.” -B.F. Skinner
But digital media is far from the only way that people slip up and lose their jobs. People get fired all the time for seemingly innocent mistakes. While we snicker behind our coffee cups at the more egregious examples, there are still plenty of other ways to get fired that may surprise you.
Over-promising and under-delivering
Negativity. You were hired to make your boss’s and your team’s jobs easier, not harder. People who constantly spread negativity through their department, complain about others, and whine that the work’s too hard or isn’t part of their job description complicate things for everyone else. Those who make their boss’s life harder are usually the first ones to go. Having to tiptoe around you so as not to dislodge that massive chip on your shoulder isn’t something he or she is likely to be willing to do for very long.
Solicitation. Whether you’re sending out e-mails inviting coworkers to your party or hanging up an order form for your child’s school fundraiser, you could be violating company policy. Don’t assume that you’re in the clear just because other people are doing it—this type of policy violation is what managers hang their hats on when they’re unhappy with an employee’s performance.
A lack of emotional intelligence
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Misusing company supplies or resources
Speaking on behalf of the company. This isn’t just about sending out an unauthorized press release or venting on the company Twitter account, because most people already realize that these types of things will get them fired. I’m talking about answering a question when a reporter sticks a microphone in your face or identifying yourself as an employee of the company when sharing your personal opinions online. This creates the perception that you’re speaking as a representative of the company, even when you aren’t trying to, and that’s definitely something that can get you fired.
Bringing It All Together
A lot of people make the mistake of thinking that they can only be fired for getting caught making one huge misstep, such as sexually harassing a colleague or bad-mouthing the boss. The reality is that it’s usually not that dramatic.
What’s the oddest or smallest thing that you’ve seen someone fired for? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below, as I learn just as much from you as you do from me. If you enjoyed this article click the subscribe button below and you'll receive a new one each week.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
If you enjoyed this article, you'll love my new book EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE HABITS. It offers an abundance of practical strategies that will teach you how to form good habits, break bad ones, and master the micro behaviors that will take your EQ to new heights. The book includes a passcode to the updated online edition of the world's #1 EQ test, which will show you where your EQ stands today and which new habits from the book will increase your EQ the most.
Senior Benefits Enrollment and Billing Specialist @ Inspira Financial | Licensed Insurance Counselor
2yThx for your ongoing articles.
Leader/Coach/Mentor/Trainer... student
2yYou can also get fired because someone decides that you sent out something racist, even though: -no one else thinks its racist -what you sent was drastiaclly taken out of context -color/race was not brought up or addressed in any way -you've never had an incident in the past - the complaint is sent directly to corporate so no one on your management team has any say - and you are the fiercest fighter for equality in the office. When someone is determined to find something to be offended by, you are certain to get fired, especially in our current hyper-reactive society. Companies would rather just terminate rather than risk being branded as racist on social media. (Yes, i get it. Its the burdon of the message sender to make sure that nothing can be construed as 'offensive' but that still cant help you if someone is determined to label something you send as offensive)
Consultant and coach! Developing top leaders!
2yWrong medication⚰️
IB Lead / Process Assistant
2yThanks for sharing, Dr. Travis Bradberry!
HARP Care Manager at Sun River Health
2yVery informative article. Thanks for sharing 👍