Sunday 12 January, 2025

5 things your boss won't admit to

A slideshow of the top things your manager is least likely to say to you – but may actually be thinking or doing.

THE WASHINGTON POST’S Smart Money has published its list of things bosses won’t tell you, but which have an impact on your job, from the possibility of mothers being overlooked for promotions to the value of being the boss’s pet.

Here’s theJournal.ie’s version, featuring five things your boss is unlikely to admit to you:

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I read your emails.
Employers are entitled to read emails sent through the company's corporate accounts if they have notified employees of such. And they do, to an increasing extent. IT market research company Gartner says that the market for email monitoring software has expanded by over 25% since 2008. (Image: gerlos on Flickr via Creative Commons)
I know you're not actually sick today.
SmartMoney says that a growing number of companies are hiring private investigators to track down and expose employees who are faking illnesses. Your boss may know more than you think - especially when you take that Friday off sick before a bank holiday Monday. (Image: mcfarlandmo on Flickr via Creative Commons)
You're too old to work here.
Refusing to hire somebody on the basis that they are too old is in breach of the Equality Act in Ireland, but US experts believe that as the workforce ages, bias against older workers will increase. (Image: madgerly on Flickr via Creative Commons)
Looks matter.
Being attractive can boost your employability, according to a study by UC Denver Business School earlier this year. However, there seems to be a fine line here, as the same study found that beautiful women were overlooked for jobs which are traditionally seen as masculine (eg truck drivers and prison guards). (Image: dpstyles™ on Flickr via Creative Commons)
You really, really want me to like you.