Unspoken rules of office etiquette
It’s your first day at a new job, and the moment you step in you realise that it is a completely different environment from your previous workplace. Naturally, you want to make a good first and impression.
Each workplace has its own set of rules, which are usually outlined during the onboarding process by the hiring manager and even through the employee handbook. However, there are a few other general office etiquette rules that we don’t really talk about but are sort of implied.
Today we will take a look at a few of these unspoken rules to help you get off to a great start!
- Workplace gossip
I’m sure you have experienced some sort of workplace gossip. You mention something to a co-worker in confidence, and suddenly, before the day is never even over, everyone knows about it!
Finding out people are talking about you behind your back can be very hurtful and not to mention it can severely damage your reputation and even your career!
- Music
That is the 3rd time you’ve played the same song in the last hour, we hate it and to make matters worse you’re playing it so loud that the office building next to us are also sick of it.
Tip: Use your headphones instead, if this is allowed at your place of work, just make sure you can hear the phone or someone who is trying to talk to you.
- Meetings
Before setting up a meeting and inviting everyone in your contact list. Take a few minutes, and think – do you really need to set up a meeting for this? Would an email do just fine instead?
If it’s really necessary to set up a meeting, be sure it is relevant to those that are invited. Every minute spent in a wasteful meeting is eating time from solo work that’s essential for efficiency and creativity.
- Avoid microwaving certain foods
You probably know that you shouldn’t bring fish for lunch, but there are other food items that can leave a stench. If you really have no other option, at least have the decency to heat up the food when people have vacated the kitchen area and wipe down the microwave if there were any spills.
- Clean up after yourself!
If you’re using the kitchen or break room to prepare your lunch, then please make sure to clean up after yourself. Wipe down countertops and the microwave. Clean your dishes and coffee mugs, if you used any, or at least put them in the dishwasher if you have one.
- Use the “reply all” function, with caution!
Next time you’re responding to a mass email, please consider who really needs to read your response. There’s no need to flood everyone’s inboxes.
Good business etiquette can accelerate your career and make you feel more comfortable at work. Ultimately, the general rule is to respect others.