DEAR HARRIETTE: At a work conference a few months ago, a group of employees decided to go out and party. They were incredibly drunk, and their debauchery was cringe-inducing to the company, but no higher-ups ever found out about this. These employees went out at night in Miami on their time off. Afterward, it was just office gossip and an eventful story to tell.
The next conference is coming up, and this same group is scheduled to take the trip. I don't think this is fair, considering their past behavior on the trips. I wouldn't want to become the whistleblower for my co-workers' partying ways, but I want to secure myself a spot on this trip. Is risking their wrath worth furthering my career by having my bosses like me more? I think they would be grateful that they wouldn't send a bunch of drunkards across the country for a conference. -- My Turn Now, Paterson, New Jersey
DEAR MY TURN NOW: Your motive here sounds an alarm. If you actually were thinking about your company's best interest, you would have let them know -- either directly or anonymously -- after the previous incident. Your reason for outing your co-workers is to bump somebody so you can get a space. That will likely backfire on you because it's a selfish action.
Your co-workers may have learned their lesson. If so, they will behave on this upcoming trip. If not, they may get in trouble. That is their problem. If you are invited to go, independent of them, keep your eyes on your work and your behavior, not on them.