OFFICE ETIQUETTE

When working in an office, we all have to follow the office policy. In some countries you get to sign a ‘good practices’ document which you will follow. Many employers will sell you their office as the best choice in the world. But do people who manage offices really understand what employees are about? We will finish with our Top 10’s, but let us first look at some examples of office etiquette.

Office Etiquette

Most will not work in their dream office. Most people will also prefer to spend those 8 hours a day outside doing something else. Working in an office is just one of those necessary things we need to do. This does not mean we should forget good practices, so office etiquette is something we all have to deal with. We like to look at office etiquette as a form of mutual respect and understanding between co-workers. We share this office 8 hours a day, for that reason let us try to make the best of it.

Light on the Work Floor

Although light is something we do not think about much, since it is always there. But how do you feel if it is not there in your work place? Working without enough light leads to fatigue and later in life to eye sight problems. So what is enough light? The EU standard (EN 12464-1) for office light is a minimum of 500 Lux. Do you have 500 Lux in your work place?

Do you get 500 Lux at your desk? #notwaistingmyeyesformyjob Click To Tweet

Messy Workplace

Every good office policy lists: keep your desk tidy. Obviously employers do not want pigs working for them. On the other hand you like to show you are into your job and for this you need many notes and attributes. Why clean your desk when you need everything again tomorrow?

Are you a slob at work? #slobsatworkhaverightstoo #imacleandeskperson Click To Tweet

Vending Machines

Most offices have vending machines. You pick, you pay and you take your item. Why is it, that often vending machines are refilled only after days and then often during work hours. So it happens a lot that in the morning your coffee is water. The worst vending machine is an empty one, of course the second worst vending machine is the one being refilled during your 15 minute break. They should be refilled in the morning!

Vending machine re-fillers should start early. #fillmeupeverymorningplease Click To Tweet

Toilet Seat Up or Down?

You come to the bathroom for a too long delayed relieve, unfortunately you find the toilet seat up. Doesn’t it make you feel as if you enter someone’s unfinished session? Nothing strange, or indeed bad office etiquette? We wonder if you or your colleagues leave the seat up, or if you politely leave the bathroom in proper shape for the next one? It is just bad behavior to leave toilet seats up, you too ladies!

Toilet seat at the office: UP or DOWN? #finishyoursessionwithclosure Click To Tweet

Desk Chair

In the morning when you arrive at work, your desk chair is most likely placed neatly at your desk. Have you left it like that, or did the cleaning team place it back? Have you ever wondered, if it is good office etiquette to leave your desk chair in the middle of the path after your shift is over?

Paths are not for stationary chairs. #chairsliketobeclosetotables Click To Tweet

Climate Control

Offices are often warm and crowded places, for this reason offices have air and humidity treatment. These treatments just do not work if people change the settings regularly (or leave the window open with the airco on).  A task for management: give clear instructions what the settings should be and stay. It is not could for anybody if nitwits change settings constantly.

Stop changing the aircon settings please! #donttouchwhatyoudonotunderstand Click To Tweet

Private ‘mobiling’ during work

Have you ever had that a colleague or someone on your work floor is talking out loud on his or her cell phone? Apparently not work related. Of course you have. Many people do not realize their behavior can be disturbing to others. Bad office etiquette to disregard your colleagues like that.

Really? You see I am working here right? #mobilesomewhereelseplease Click To Tweet

Cleaning during work hours

You get a lot of money, you are there for 8 hours a day, why would the cleaning lady come exactly during the same hours? And why not, vacuum while you are at it! The lady cannot help it, she is making her ends meet. But really, who comes up with these plannings?

We love you cleaning lady, but why now? #respectforcleaningladies Click To Tweet

Software modifications

You work in customer care and you are supposed to be happy with everything right? What if they decided a software update is a good idea. But wait, from 5.000 mouse clicks/month all of a sudden you go to 7.500 mouse clicks/month. We say: Try your own product sometimes computer nerds!

You did not have to do that! #stopincreasingmouseclicks Click To Tweet

Shared materials

Many offices have this modern shared desk policy. Nice idea. But sharing computers or sharing headsets is not the same thing. Raise your hand if you wore a headset with used ear pads at work? Just yuck… How much do these things cost anyway?

Dear manager, please check https://tinyurl.com/y639n5j8? #cleanearpadsforall Click To Tweet

And now our TOP 10’s!

Bad Office Etiquette are things with which you drive your co-workers up the wall. Good office etiquette are things that make office life agreeable.

Top 10 Bad Office Etiquette

1. Changing the climate control without asking other people.
2. Turn lights off without asking other people.
3. Leave a mess in common facilities.
4. Call in sick too much.
5. Make unnecessary noise on the work floor.
6. Share too much personal information.
7. Receiving too many emails from your employer.
8. Bad personal hygiene.
9. Always agree with your manager.
10. Pretending to know everything.

Top 10 Good Office Etiquette

1. Arrive timely.
2. Be attentive to co-workers.
3. Good personal hygiene.
4. Be positive.
5. Take breaks in good time.
6. Be polite to customers.
7. Take care of office materials and spaces.
8. Be polite to facility staff (cleaners, guards, serving staff).
9. Take care of your own health (ergonomics).
10. Show respect and a certain amount of humility.

If you miss something in this overview, comment on our Facebook or write us: info@careersineurope.eu

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