We all have that one coworker who loves to talk at work, but some kinds of conversation need to be nipped in the bud before they cause a problem at work. Yahoo! Finance lists several kinds of conversations that could get HR involved, as well as some tips to help employees get out of awkward work conversations.
Some of the topics are common-sense no-no’s at work. People don’t want to hear about religion, sex, or how much you got intoxicated over the weekend. In addition to how awkward these conversations are, it’s rare that any of them would be relevant in most work settings.
Another set of topics to avoid are personal issues outside of work. For instance, it’s not a good idea to bring your martial issues into the office, nor talk about any lawsuits you’re going through. Gory details about health issues should also be avoided. Your coworkers may not know how to respond to these kinds of conversations in the work environment. Save it for after work. Your supervisor may need to know a few details if your personal situation affects your work, but that can be done in private or over email.
Then there are work-related topics that cause trouble. Even if it’s legal to talk about it, open salary discussions and sharing too many of your work grievances can drag down the workplace.
For more topics to avoid, as well as those tips, check out the full article at the link above.