7 of the most irritating office habits

In the workplace, manners and etiquette can often fall by the wayside. In fact, you’d be surprised by how many people don’t know, or choose to ignore, the basic rules of good office behavior. From messy desks, to being late, to taking personal phone calls, there are all sorts of irksome habits that can cause tension between coworkers, lead to low morale and create a stressful working environment. Ever wondered if you’ve rubbed your colleagues up the wrong way? Here are seven of the most irritating office habits and how to tackle them.   1. Being messy   Perhaps one of the most common bugbears for office workers is being messy. An untidy, disorganised desk can not only be a distraction to your coworkers, but it can also signify to your boss that you are struggling to keep on top of your workload. If you’re keen to remain on favourable terms with your workmates and superiors, it’s a good idea to keep the chaos and clutter under control. So, if your desk is piled high with paperwork, you’re surrounded by an ever growing collection of post-it notes and there’s a teetering stack of folders by your feet, now’s the time to invest in some new office storage solutions - such as filing cabinets and desk organisers. Once you have got your workspace shipshape, you will be surprised at how much more efficient and productive your day is.   2. Being late   We’ve all had to wait around for someone who’s running late. Annoying, isn’t it? Arriving late to collaborative work sessions or meetings can give the impression that you are unorganised or that you don't take your job seriously, both of which are guaranteed to put you in your collegues’ bad books. To avoid placing strain on your workplace relationships, always be punctual. If you are someone who struggles with time management and is regularly late, make sure you leave enough time between meetings or schedule calendar reminders on your computer to ensure you turn up on time. Also, if you are giving a presentation or leading a discussion in a meeting room, be courteous and try to keep within the allotted time so that other groups don’t have to wait for you to finish.   3. Using mobile phones   We are all guilty of using our phones in work at some point or another, but there are certain times when it’s inappropriate. While sending a quick text to a friend may be excusable, when it happens constantly throughout the day, it can quickly become a problem. The constant buzz of social media notifications, replying to emails during meetings and taking personal phone calls when others are trying to work can be a real annoyance. Particularly if your workspace is open plan, try to avoid using your mobile during working hours. Put your mobile on silent mode, go into a different room to take calls and save that Twitter update for lunchtime.   4. Being too loud   Gossiping, holding meetings at your desk and having conversations across the room can be highly distracting for those sitting nearby. It’s true that speaking to coworkers and being sociable can be good for morale and bonding, but it’s important to keep volume levels in check. If those around you are constantly having to put their headphones in to get work done, chances are you are being too loud. Remember, people might not want to hear about your weekend plans or what you watched on TV last night. If you want to catch up with someone or bring up confidential information, move the conversation to a private spot. After all, you never know who could be listening.   5. Coming to work when you’re sick   OK, so you might want to make a good impression and look committed in front of your boss, but coming to work when you are ill is a big no-no. There’s nothing more annoying than having to sit near someone who coughs and sneezes at their desk all day and, let’s face it, the chance of you actually being productive when you feel under the weather is pretty low. As a general rule of thumb, if your illness is contagious and you are going to spread your sickness around the office, stay at home. Taking a couple days off work is far better than struggling your way through the day - and trust us, your workmates will thank you for it later.   6. Constant procrastination   We all know someone who takes an extra 10 minutes at lunch, has too many cigarette breaks and spends most of their time browsing the internet. While we all avoid doing work on occasions, constant procrastination is a sure fire way to vex your colleagues. Not only can it irk others who are hard working, but it can also mean that you have less time to complete your tasks, which could result in missed deadlines and a lower standard of work. If you want to avoid a disciplinary from your boss, kick your procrastinating habits by setting yourself a strict schedule and working on improving your time management skills.   7. Bad table manners   Leaving the kitchen messy, letting food go off in the fridge and eating smelly lunches at your desk are all up there with some of the most irritating workplace habits. And while we are on the subject of eating and drinking, not sharing food and never offering to do the tea round can also get on people’s nerves. To prevent food wars from erupting in the office, remember that you share your workplace with others and just as your mother would say, always mind your table manners.   The office can be a hotbed for clashing personalities and conflicting behavioural habits and unfortunately, you can’t always pick who you work with. Luckily, there are certain things you can do to make sure that you don’t get under anybody’s skin. By keeping your office manners in check and being considerate of those around you, you should be able to enjoy a happy and harmonious work environment.