Things you should never, ever say to your boss

While many of us are well-versed in workplace etiquette, when it comes to communication with those who manage us, mistakes are sometimes made. There are statements and questions we ought to rephrase or avoid completely when we talk to our bosses. Many of these may seem harmless, but they can be rather inappropriate. In this gallery, we bring you a list of some of the things you should never say to your boss. Click on to discover.

“I want a raise”

There is nothing wrong with wanting to earn more money. Just make sure that you are well prepared when you address your boss about the topic. Just “wanting” is no compelling reason to negotiate a salary raise. Otherwise, it’ll just sound like a childish demand.

“I can’t work with x person”

If you’re genuinely concerned about working with a colleague, tell your boss exactly why and ask advice on how to deal with it from a professional perspective, rather than refuse right off the bat to work with this person.

“We’ve always done things this way”

Change is difficult for some people, but flexibility and adaptability are important in today’s job market. Instead of being reluctant to change, ask your boss to explain what will be different. This will make you feel more confident, and you will seem open to, not adverse to, change.

“That’s above my pay grade”

If you think you don’t have the authority to perform a task or make a decision, be open about it and tell your boss exactly why you believe this to be the case.

“I have too much on my plate right now”

Sometimes, taking on a new project is not feasible. We want our workload to be manageable, but an immediate refusal will not sound good. Discuss your schedule with your boss to figure out if or how extra tasks can fit into your day.

"What's the big deal?"

Sometimes we don’t understand why our bosses place so much importance on something that didn’t go as expected. Politely ask why your boss is placing so much importance on something so that you can understand where they’re coming from.

"That's not my job"

If your boss is asking you to do something that is not in your job description, there is surely a reason for it. If you don’t feel you have the skills, knowledge, or resources to perform the task, that should be openly discussed with your boss.

“I’m so hungover”

Announcing that you're hungover won’t give your boss a good impression of you. Partying the day before is not an excuse to do a mediocre job.

“I heard x saying y about you”

Office gossip is pretty unprofessional, but snitching on another coworker will make you look untrustworthy. If you badmouth a colleague, you can certainly do the same for anyone else, including your boss.

“I’m so bored”

Feeling bored at work is normal, but announcing it isn't very professional. If you find yourself with some free time in your schedule, perhaps you could ask to get involved with some other tasks.

"I‘m way too smart for this job"

If you feel your skills are not valued at your current job, you should discuss it with your boss or ultimately find another position.

"Are you pregnant?"

Speaking of inappropriate comments, you should never ask if your boss is pregnant. This can not only cause embarrassment but actually be really offensive.

"No offense, but…"

Saying "no offense, but..." is usually a polite way of saying something offensive and it's likely going to disgruntle your boss.

“Sorry, I lied on my interview”

If you said in your interview that you can do something and then fail to do so because it’s not true, then this is a serious offense. After all, you were hired because you had a particular skillset.

“Can you ask x to do it instead?”

If your boss asked you to do something and not another coworker, maybe there is a reason for it. If you are not sure, ask. Don’t tell your boss how to delegate work—that’s their job, not yours.

Slang of any kind

Using slang words when speaking with your colleagues is generally ok, but it's not ok to do with your boss.