There are all kinds of secrets employees keep for their employers. Most of us aren’t expected to guard the secret recipe for the Colonel’s fried chicken. (In fact, if you are privy to this secrets, your last name is probably Sanders.) Most of us aren’t asked to guard secrets that valuable. But the kinds of secrets we ARE asked to keep can be just as … troublesome.

The two most common secrets that crop up in the course of a work day are those revolving around sex and money, with the occasional sticky situation like finding out a co-worker is about to be fired. In every case, the employee has a choice–keep the secret or pass it along. (more…)

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I am watching the Phil Spector trial on Court TV. I am watching a bespectacled Englishwoman tell the court about Phil Spector, her employer, pulling a gun on her. More than once. And I can’t help but think, “What were you thinking?” She did in fact eventually go on to find another job. But everyone dismissed Spector’s behavior as eccentric rather than incredibly dangerous. How could anyone put up with that kind of bad behavior? I’ve done it in the past and still can’t quite believe it.

Most bosses are not going to pull a gun on you, but they can be dangerous in other ways. Every single woman I know (and at least two men) have stories of sexual harassment that they let go because they felt silly pursuing the matter, or didn’t have the energy or money for a long court fight. (One guy I know DID take his male boss to curt over a proposition that turned into a threat upon rejection, and while he ultimately won his case, it wrecked his health.) (more…)

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