Never Tell Your Boss These Things

I'm busy. Ask Sandra to do it.Four things that should never come out of one's mouth in the presence of an employer: "I can't," "I won't," "that's impossible," "ask somebody else to do it," or, gasp, "do it yourself." Sure, you may be swamped beyond belief with reports, but if a higher-up comes to you for something, your first impulse should be to say "of course" (sigh and roll your eyes after the boss has left the room).

 OMG, I'm so bored!Just as you shouldn't tell your boss to stop putting things on your desk or your head will positively explode, you shouldn't complain to him or her about being bored or that your job is too easy (there's a reason Angry Birds was invented, you know).
Really? Is this the best the company could do?It doesn't matter if you're referring to new office chairs, the communal fridge or the location of a company retreat or holiday party. Don't go on a whiny tirade to your supervisor about petty things regarding company spending that don't sit well with you. Not every company lavishes its employees and no one likes a person with a bloated sense of entitlement, especially bosses.
 Happy hour lasted until 2 a.m. for me last night. Can I take off early?Unless he or she was with you partying it up last night, your boss is likely to have little sympathy for your extracurricular activities, especially when it involves drinking. Don't bother complaining about being hung over to them. Keep a large bottle of Advil at your desk, drink plenty of water and learn from your mistakes. It's not their problem.

 Can we talk about that Christmas package?Avoid discussing holiday bonuses or a lack thereof  with your boss. It's bad form. A bonus is a bonus, and you should thank him or her whether you're the recipient of a generous check or a year's supply of canned preserves.