Seven things you shouldn't tell your colleagues At what point do you need to stop being friends with your colleague and start just being colleagues again? HOW close are you with your colleagues? Chances are you count many of them as friends, and you probably spend more time with them than you do with your loved ones. But where should you draw the line? At what point do you need to stop being friends with your colleague and start being colleagues again? Punch Breaking View: Etiquette rules for bores, psychopaths Workplace law expert Joydeep Hor says the boundaries between work life and private life are becoming increasingly blurred, creating problems for employees both professionally and legally. Sex Aside from the obvious awkwardness, talking about your sex life can get you in legal trouble. Mr Hor said the definition of sexual harassment is quite broad. "But it's quite clear that within that breadth a person could claim being harassed in circumstances where a colleague has shared too much detail of their private life," he said. It doesn't need to be of a graphic sexual nature, even if it touches on that, arguably it could be seen as harassment. Manners expert Anna Musson agrees, advising not to talk about one night stands or sexual exploits. It's indiscreet and your co-workers may be really quite shocked. It's too much information," Ms Musson said. Opinions No one wants to work in an office where they can't speak their mind, but Mr Hor said people need to be aware of their obligation not to vilify certain groups in the workplace. "The expression of personally held opinions could be dangerous," he said. [Opinions on] racial vilification and homosexual vilification - topics in workplaces where views might be held that lead to vigorous acts of debate. Gossip - even if it's not about work Ms Musson said gossiping about others in the office is a bad look because it suggests you are not productive in the workplace. But sharing gossip about people in your private life is also risky. If you speak ill of others and always have a snipe, people will get that idea about you,' Ms Musson said. Keep your gossip and negative thoughts to yourself because things can really change. Just remember people in the workplace are not blood - people may say they won't tell anyone but they might only tell two or three people. Business etiquette expert Danielle Di-Masi said you should be careful about what you share about in your private life because your colleagues have long memories. Don't share problems you might have in your personal relationship, with your parents, family or finances. What you drank on the weekend Never tell your boss that you wrote yourself off on the weekend. "It represents a lapse in judgement and makes them query if you'd have the same lapse in judgement in your work," Ms Musson said. Your frustrations If one of your colleagues or a customer is rude to you be careful about how you respond, especially if you're angry or frustrated. Ms Di-Masi said your co-workers might be turned off if you're constantly venting about others. "Really try to balance out your communication, even if you think you're just venting and chatting it might come across as negative and people might try to distance themselves," she said. Big mistakes you've made We all make mistakes at work, some bigger than others. You might be tempted to tell a close work friend about it, but if the mistake is serious you may not be able to trust them to keep it to themselves. Mr Hor said if someone discloses misconduct to a colleague, they could be forced to share it if they're participating in an employer conducted investigation. "The employee to whom something has been disclosed may have an obligation to share information about it," he said. Ms Musson said you should always apply a filter about what you tell co-workers who are friends. "The problem is in the workplace people may be very sweet to your face but have an ulterior motive," she said. In the office they might use that information against you should the relationship change or should they be a little ambitious. Major life events Even big exciting developments in your life - like getting pregnant, married or moving overseas - can pose problems if you share them in the wrong way. Chances are you'll want to tell your closest work friends about big life events before you tell your boss, but Ms Di-Masi said this can end up reflecting badly on you. "Always talk to your manager or anyone you need to first because what generally happens is news gets around very quickly," she said. Your manager hears you're pregnant or you're moving and their mind automatically goes ticking into what needs to happen. It can seem like you're keeping secrets and they need to run a business.