Office Etiquette

OFFICE ETIQUETTE

A majority of your day is spent at the office and around your coworkers, so it’s important to keep the environment professional. Poor office etiquette can not only affect your relationship with your coworkers, but also employee morale and productivity. To keep a positive environment, all employees must do their part to demonstrate good manners and follow guidelines like below.

• Keep your space tidy – While your space is your own and you may want to decorate with some personal affections, keep it in order, especially if your workspace is out in the open. Clutter not only makes it hard for you to do your job, but also reflects poorly on the office and those around you. Throw away trash and keep your space organized so it's not an eye sore for those walking by.

• Keep the kitchen clean - Aside from the fact that nobody wants to see a messy kitchen, you don’t want to attract bugs.

Don’t leave your dirty dishes in the sink and always clean up after yourself. If you keep your food in a refrigerator, ensure to clean out your items periodically so it doesn’t go bad.

• Stay home when you're sick – You may have work to do and not feel able to take time off, but if you’re sick, the last thing you want is to bring it to the office and get others sick as well.

If you still feel able to work, talk to your boss about working from home.

• Respect others' privacy – Always knock before entering an office or ask permission before entering someone’s workspace. If they are on the phone, or are in the middle of a task, excuse yourself and come back at a later time.

• Don't disturb those around you – Depending on your office setup, you may be working in an open workspace with many others close by. They want to get their work done and may not want to hear about what you did this weekend or the project you’re working on. You cannot help taking a work-related phone call, but if you are having a meeting, do it in a conference room behind closed doors or in a setting where you won’t impact others’ work.

• Demonstrate an interest in others – While you don’t have to become best friends with your colleagues, you are going to spend a great amount of time with them. Be polite and show an interest in their hobbies and personal life, and you can share your own as well. You don’t have to share beyond your comfort, but it's good to know at least a few things about one another.

• Respect coworkers and company property – After working somewhere for an extended period of time, you may get comfortable in the office. Remember, it is a professional environment. The furniture and supplies are meant to be used for work only. Don’t rest your feet on chairs or take supplies home with you. This goes for coworkers’ property as well.

Ask before using or borrowing something, and always return it in the same condition as before.

• Be conscious of smells – While you may really enjoy your peach candle or the smell of fish, not everyone will. Aside from personal preference, some people may be sensitive, leading to headaches or an allergic reaction to strong scents.

Refrain from any unnecessary smells that may impact others at the office. • Be mindful of others' workloads – Different departments have different busy periods throughout the year. Keep your coworkers’ schedules in mind when asking tasks of them. Be willing to pitch in and adjust your schedule based on the organization’s needs as a whole.

• Replace something after you use it – Nobody likes when they go to use the printer and it is out of paper, so don’t leave the tray empty. If you take the last of the coffee, make another pot. If you don’t know how to replace something or where supplies are, ask someone else in the office to help you.

Sources:

(Gottsman, 2014) (Pickard-Whitehead, 2017) (Quast, 2014)