We’ve all had those moments at work where we’ve either said something we immediately regret or witnessed someone else put their foot so far in their mouth they might need surgery to remove it. While most of us try to keep things professional, sometimes words slip out that can make the office atmosphere more awkward than a conference call where nobody remembers to unmute. Let’s dive into some phrases that should probably stay in your head instead of coming out of your mouth at work.
1. “That’s Not My Job.”
Oh boy, this phrase is basically the workplace equivalent of nails on a chalkboard. Even if something truly isn’t in your job description, saying it this way makes you sound like that person who refuses to pick up a piece of trash because they’re not on the janitorial staff. There are about a million better ways to handle this situation, like offering to help find the right person for the task or explaining your current workload constraints. Plus, in today’s collaborative work environment, this phrase can quickly earn you a reputation as someone who’s not a team player. Your coworkers will remember this response way longer than the five seconds it took you to say it.
2. “I Can’t Believe You Make That Much.”
Listen, discussing salaries at work is already walking on thin ice, but making comments about someone’s paycheck is like doing a tap dance on that ice while juggling flaming torches. Whether you think they make too much or too little, this comment is guaranteed to create instant awkwardness and potential resentment. You have no idea about their negotiation process, experience level, or other factors that went into their compensation. This kind of comment can also get you into hot water with HR faster than you can say “annual review.” Plus, it makes you look incredibly unprofessional and possibly a bit jealous.
3. “Must Be Nice to Leave Early All the Time.”
This passive-aggressive gem is basically workplace shade-throwing 101. Maybe your coworker negotiated flexible hours, has childcare responsibilities, or works remotely part of the day—whatever the reason, it’s probably none of your business. This comment just makes you sound bitter and unprofessional, while also showing you have no idea about their total working hours or arrangements with management. There’s a good chance they’re making up those hours at times you don’t see or handling responsibilities you don’t know about. Besides, this kind of comment can create unnecessary tension and make you look like you’re more focused on others’ schedules than your own work.
4. “Why Do They Keep Promoting [Person’s Name]?”
Questioning someone else’s success out loud is basically announcing “I’m jealous and unprofessional” to anyone within earshot. Maybe your coworker has skills you don’t know about, or perhaps they’re doing amazing work behind the scenes that you’re not aware of. This kind of comment makes you sound bitter and can get back to both the person you’re talking about and the managers who made the promotion decisions. It’s also a quick way to brand yourself as someone who’s more focused on others’ success than their own growth.
5. “You Don’t Look Like Someone Who Would…”
Any comment that starts this way is basically opening a door to discrimination city, and you definitely don’t want to go there. Whether you’re talking about someone’s job role, skills, or interests, making assumptions based on how they look is inappropriate and potentially discriminatory. This kind of comment often reveals unconscious biases and can create a hostile work environment. Plus, it’s a great way to end up in a very uncomfortable meeting with HR explaining exactly what you meant by that statement.
6. “You Look Tired Today.”
This might seem like you’re showing concern, but it’s basically a polite way of saying “Wow, you look terrible!” Nobody wants to hear that they look exhausted, especially when they might have just spent an hour trying to look presentable for work. Maybe they were up all night with a sick kid, dealing with personal issues, or just couldn’t sleep—either way, pointing it out doesn’t help anyone. This comment can be especially problematic when directed at women, as it often carries underlying judgments about appearance and professional presentation. Instead of commenting on someone’s appearance, ask if they’re doing okay if you’re genuinely concerned.
7. “Well, When I Was Your Age…”
Nothing makes you sound more like a dinosaur than starting a sentence this way, especially when talking to younger coworkers. Age-related comments are not only potentially discriminatory but also incredibly condescending and unhelpful. Your experience from 20 years ago might not even be relevant in today’s rapidly changing work environment. This phrase immediately creates a hierarchy based on age rather than expertise or merit. Plus, it’s a surefire way to get your younger colleagues to tune out whatever (possibly valuable) advice you were about to share.
8. “Did You Hear About [Office Gossip]?”
Even if you know something juicy about Liza from accounting’s divorce or Stuart from sales’ job interview with a competitor, keeping it to yourself is always the better choice. Spreading gossip not only makes you look untrustworthy but can also create a toxic work environment that affects everyone. Plus, there’s always the chance that whatever you’re sharing will make its way back to the person you’re talking about (and trust me, it usually does).
9. “Between You and Me…”
The moment these words leave your mouth, you might as well be announcing over the office PA system that you’re about to say something you shouldn’t. Nothing you say after this phrase is ever actually going to stay between just two people in an office environment. This kind of secretive setup often precedes something inappropriate, confidential, or gossipy that shouldn’t be shared in the first place. Using this phrase makes you look untrustworthy and can get you into serious trouble if you’re sharing sensitive information.
10. “At My Last Company…”
While sharing experiences can be valuable, constantly comparing everything to your previous workplace is like being the person who won’t stop talking about their high school glory days. Nobody wants to hear about how your old company did everything better, especially when they’re trying to get current work done. This kind of constant comparison can make you seem unengaged with your current role and unwilling to adapt to a new environment. It can also be really annoying for your coworkers who are proud of their company and its processes.
11. “I Don’t Mean to Be Rude, But…”
Spoiler alert: whenever someone starts a sentence this way, they’re absolutely about to be rude. This phrase is like putting a warning label on an insult—it doesn’t make the insult any better, it just shows you know you’re about to say something inappropriate and you’re doing it anyway. It’s the workplace equivalent of “no offense”—which always offends someone. This kind of preface doesn’t give you a free pass to say whatever you want.
12. “You’re So Lucky You Don’t Have Kids.”
You have no idea about someone’s personal situation, choices, or struggles regarding family planning. This kind of statement assumes that people without children have easier lives or more free time, which is both presumptuous and inappropriate for workplace conversation. It can be especially hurtful to someone dealing with fertility issues or who has chosen not to have children. It also implies that their time is somehow less valuable because they don’t have children.
13. “We’ve Always Done It This Way.”
Nothing screams “I’m resistant to change” quite like this phrase. In today’s rapidly evolving workplace, being the person who clings to old methods just because they’re familiar isn’t helpful…like, at all. This response to new ideas or processes makes you sound inflexible and unwilling to adapt to improvements. It can be especially frustrating for new employees or team members trying to introduce innovative solutions. And it’s definitely a sure way to get labeled as someone who’s holding the team back rather than helping it move forward.
