“Ask yourself why you did it,” says Louise Crosby Sydney-based life coach and career counselor. “Do you have the competence and confidence your job requires? If not, do some additional training. An important reality check on your self-esteem may uncover why you did it in the first place. Passing someone else’s work off as your own is an admission of lack of confidence, dishonesty, jealousy or sheer laziness. If you get caught, be honest and apologise to both your employer and the colleague involved.”

“We live in litigious times,” says Louise Crosby, “and a seemingly innocent flirt or drunken gesture of affection can lead to a sexual harassment charge, a confrontation and possible dismissal.”