Covering Explorer

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I worked 70 hour weeks to complete a project in time. Because I've been working from home since Covid, no one really knew the hours I logged. I didn't mention it cause what's the point.

I covered my mental state. I was extremely stressed out in life but I had to keep it together at work.

I always my political views. When a political discussion starts, I listen carefully, which gives the appearance of agreeing. Then, I find an excuse to leave the area. I could mention the Hatch Act but then they would know that I don't agree. I would like my supervisor to stop the conversation but he participates in the conversation.

I was told that my hair .. needed to change. It made me insecure, but I had already been told that my hair was too ethnic earlier in my career. I want to let people know hair has nothing to do with my abilities.

A coworker told me he was gay, but didn't want it known. So I kept it just between he and me.

Constantly need to cover when working with MAGA clients.

At work-sponsored dinners, someone will get up and say grace. It makes me uncomfortable, but I bow my head like the other goons around the table so no one can see me rolling my eyes.

Covered a personal traumatic experience, the murder of a child. I reported the death of family member but did not reveal, the depth of devastation I was going through. I was afraid they would make me take personal time off.

Management here likes having race wards. I speak both languages so constantly need to somehow negotiate but also feed into what leadership wants.

When I'm at a social gathering I'm not comfortable talking about my extended family as some have a few issues I don't want to be known about.

Coming in late or leaving early for family or volunteer time. I would put more than enough time in on other days but supervisors would use the excuse that someone said something because they saw work being done but that I wasn't always there even though it is a salary position

I had to cover my sexual orientation because it would be frowned upon if senior management was aware. I do not include my significant other in any work related events or discuss her with any coworkers. It does make things a little more difficult. The organization could have set a more open policy.

I would definitely say during the election process and when talking politics. Obviously that's a very hot topic right now and I've noticed I have very different beliefs than some people in my organization and try to avoid talking about it but also if it comes up not backing down on my own personal beliefs.

When people are talking about their families and marriages, I have to cover about being single. I tend to make a friendly joke and try to move the conversation along.

I leave the office earlier than I'd like because I don't want to set a precedent that it is expected that others work as late as I do.

I had an illness that I didn't really want most people knowing about so I covered that.

I am in a wheelchair and my job isn't 100% accessible. I don't talk about it so I don't seem like I'm making any trouble.

I'm a woman in a male-dominated tech company so I avoid discussing family responsibilities because I fear being perceived as less committed to my job.

I had to cover a personal loss. This was not a problem since I'm good at compartmentalizing but it was not appropriate to bring this up at work.

I go into a covering frenzy when my kids childcare falls through (e.g., sick nanny). I don't want anyone to know that me being a mother is something that might distract me from work. This could hurt my chances of getting promoted and being viewed as reliable.

I found it expedient to cover my political opinions by virtue of the dominant ideological tone of the firm's leadership cadre. Short of firing senior management, nothing could be done.

I was deeply hurt when I didn't get the promotion I deserved and had to cover this disappointment and pain.

Had to cover that I was going through treatments to fight cancer. I only wanted selected individuals to know I was undergoing this.

I had to cover when we had a hispanic person come in for work due to our president mistreating them.

I always feel like I need to appear more personable at work when I actually don't want to deal with others. I would much rather just be at my desk and enter data, but I have to do a lot more in person work and feel like I need to hide that I would rather not be around people.

Any time politics are discussed, I don't say anything. Conversations like that are never going to go well.

I cover my age regularly; I don't discuss my age or graduation dates, or other age giveaways with my current team. I don't think anything bad would happen if people knew my age, but I don't want everyone thinking I'm less than a few years from retirement.

I work in a more liberal setting and I actually lean more conservative. I cover my religious and political beliefs. So I covered quite a bit in the work setting.

I can be anxious. That is not an acceptable trait at work. I've have to fake confidence that I don't feel. I don't know what my job could do to make it better.

I have endometriosis. Every time I get my period I need to take two days off of work because I can't manage the pain with only Advil. If my boss finds out, she won't let me be lead on critical projects because then I might have my period during meetings with senior stakeholders. She keeps saying to me "wow, you're sick a lot!"

I cover my political views and sexual identity at work to avoid conflict. I don't feel like I fit in or can speak openly about myself. I am not sure what could make it better.

I didn't want t people to know my dad was in hospice. I didn't want to talk about it. I just wanted to work and not think about it.

I had to cover that I was having some personal health issues because I didn't want anyone to think I was slacking at work.

I had to cover a breakup I had 2 years ago that hurt me a lot... because I wanted my co-workers to think highly of me.

A client loved the work I did. They wanted me to do an outside job and my workplace agreed. It was going to pay for 6 hours $400/an hour! Someone in HR talked about my age for some reason. They thought I was a lot younger. All of a sudden I was told that I wouldn't be needed for the project. I can't prove it but I'm almost positive it was because of my age.

I was surprised when some coworkers were making homophobic jokes... and grateful I had covered my sexual orientation up until then. orientation

I have a colorful personality that I keep needing to cover at work. My boss once called me after a meeting to talk about my yellow nail polish...

I have to hide my political beliefs on a daily basis.

Just have to hold my tongue sometimes when it comes to politics.

I have hidden mental struggles. I believe my peers would have taken advantage of it if they knew.

I tend to be very outgoing and humorous and often feel the need to cover my personality to seem more professional and to advance in my career.

My dad was suffering with dementia and my mom needed help at home. I was trying to seem professional every day, despite being very stressed. It also took a toll on my marriage and made it tough to focus at work. I needed time off but couldn't afford to ask for it. Or felt ashamed to ask...

I had an illness that I didn't really want most people knowing about so I covered that.

I usually cover my views of politics because you can't have a conversation with disagreement anymore and that's not usually worth the trouble.

Straightened my hair for years because my boss said my frizzy hair was not professional.

I grew up in a very abusive household and as a result do not have contact with my parents. When holidays come up, I am often asked if I will be going to see my family, and I usually have to cover with some excuse for why I will not be going home so that I don't have to explain my traumatic upbringing. This Christmas, I used the excuse that I don't have enough PTO to make the trip home.

I always pretend I have to go somewhere and leave the room when politics are discussed.

Cover that I went to Stanford because my team will think I "have it all" and went to an expensive school.

I did not want anyone to know about a serious illness. I made this clear, but I think it got out anyway. People gossip, no matter what you ask them to keep to themselves.

I had to cover my stance on the Covid vaccine because the government was mandating it and I did not want to get it.

I do not have an example that I would like to share. This seems like a particularly invasive question.

I was covering the fact that my husband was diagnosed with a rare neurological disease because I didn't want people thinking I couldn't perform my job to the best of my ability.

I am older than most of my colleagues and my company is obsessed with youth. I have to cover my energy level (and anxiety) so I don't appear old.

With the most recent election, there was a lot of heated discussions at meeting in which politics were brought up and most of my colleagues in the room were in favor of the opposite political candidate than I was. I don't like to discuss politics with others for fear of how people will react. I try to fake that I'm not listening and working on something else so I don't have to engage in the conversation.

We are quite wealthy and I find myself downplaying it around others.

Had to cover my husband was addicted to drugs. It was a very emotional breakup.

I do not talk about my anxiety levels at work. It fine... In my role, I need to be a calming voice during crisis.

I had to cover the extent to which I needed to take care of my wife who was suffering from mental health issues.

I had to tone down my natural expressiveness to get promoted. I accommodate to my supervisor taste in order to be in good standing.

It's been five years now at my current job. Haven't shared anything about my sexuality for fear of being judged.

The team went out for happy hour and people started talking about sexual orientation. I didn't share that I am bisexual. I was fearful that I would be judged and mocked.

My brother in law passed away. It was very sad, but I am in a same sex marriage and didn't want to reveal that at work so didn't even mention it...

I'm a trans man and I often have to cover that I'm trans for my own safety. Especially when using the restroom at work.

I was struggling in my marriage and just didn't want to bring attention to it... So I completely covered that I was even married. Didn't want anyone asking me about it.

When I was getting divorced, people in the office knew about it, but I worked hard to hide my emotions. I was devastated.