If you work in an office, it would not be an exaggeration to say that it is your second home – after all, we spend at least 8 hours at the workplace. Therefore, the atmosphere in the office should be comfortable, conducive to work and, most importantly, non-toxic, so that you do not feel irritated every time you plan your route to the workplace. So, what are the rules of basic office etiquette that are important to follow in order not to spoil the lives of yourself and other employees?
Always say hello.
Upon entering the premises, you should immediately greet all employees. Of course, not in a loud voice, but in a way that they can hear you.
Of course, in such a situation, it is better to respond to the person who entered, at least with a nod (in case you are very busy and cannot tear yourself away from your work). But the ideal option is to greet your colleague face to face.
Women's Affairs
Women should apply perfume in the restroom, not at work. You should also use perfume there, but do it very carefully. Avoid spicy, heavy scents that are more suitable for the evening. Prefer light, floral scents and not perfume, but eau de toilette. You should not smell beyond 40 centimeters, the scent can remain only in your intimate zone (20-40 centimeters), which is not customary to violate in a business environment.
Don't leave your dishes
Many people are offended when they see their cup with tea in the hands of another person. But if your dishes are not signed with initials, then it is unreasonable to be upset – after all, a person may simply not know who the cup belongs to and consider it part of the general office equipment. Therefore, there are two ways out here – either sign the cup with your name and surname, or store it on a shelf on your desk. By the way, the same applies to food containers and other products – if you don't want your yogurt to be eaten, you will have to sign it somehow (and preferably without threatening stickers).
It should be noted separately — never leave dirty dishes behind in the office kitchen, you are not at home. After eating, be sure to wash and clean up everything.
Don't gossip.
Firstly, the person you gossip with will not hesitate to gossip about you later – so you simply acquire a not very reliable friend among colleagues. Secondly, lovers of discussing everyone behind their backs can be seen a mile away – so you risk getting a reputation as a not very hardworking person who comes to the office not for work. And lastly – gossip can reach its main character, which threatens with dismissal if he is the boss.
Say no to foods with strong odors
Dirty microwaves and smelly refrigerators are a problem in every office. And it’s not always possible to find the source of the problem with the same container of fish or other questionable foods. So always follow three rules: wash your container immediately after eating, don’t bring foods with a strong odor that might irritate someone to work, and clean the microwave if your food remains on the walls.
Don't come to work when you're sick.
Yes, sometimes your superiors won't let you go on sick leave, that's what happens, but if the choice is yours, it's better to stay home. It's unlikely that colleagues who get infected will appreciate your rush to work. So, if you notice signs of the flu or a cold (cough, headache, fever, runny nose) – it's better to stay home. You won't get better in the office and you'll still have to take sick leave – so what's the point? And if your affairs cannot be postponed, try to agree with your boss about “remote work.”
Private conversations are not for everyone
Try to have personal phone conversations outside of your workplace so as not to distract or embarrass your colleagues. The best place for such conversations is a corridor, an empty conference room, or another quiet place in the office where no one can hear you. And logically, don't have long conversations, just keep it business-like.
Punctuality is a middle name
This will show your colleagues and manager that you value their time and are responsible for meetings and deadlines. Nowadays, this quality is especially valued in employees. This also includes being late – only in case of force majeure, at other times you should show up on time.
Don't schedule meetings at inconvenient times.
If you are a terrible workaholic and there is no “inconvenient” time for you to meet, then other people may be different. So you should not schedule negotiations and interviews early on Monday morning, when colleagues may have a hard time coming to terms with the start of the work week, and late on Friday, when many are already mentally on the weekend.
