The Do's and Don'ts of Office Etiquette

From table manners and queuing to minding your P’s and Q’s, we’re a nation renowned for our customs and protocol. However, when it comes to the workplace, it’s quite often a different story. By ignoring the unwritten codes of office behaviour, strife between co-workers can quickly mount up and result in a stressful working environment. To ensure a happy and productive workforce, here are some do’s and don'ts of office etiquette.   Do make sure your desk is tidy   You’re surrounded by empty coffee cups and your ever-growing pile of paperwork is spilling onto your neighbour’s desk. Sound familiar? OK, so keeping on top of your cleaning duties is unlikely to be at the top of your agenda when you’ve got a looming deadline and you’re swamped with work. However, if you want to stay on good terms with your boss and colleagues, now might be the time to de-clutter. Make the most of your space by taking advantage of desk organisers and filing cabinets and avoid any more tut-tut’s of disapproval.   Don’t come to work when you’re sick   You might want to make a good impression and look productive in front of your superiors, but there’s nothing that irritates office workers more than someone who coughs, sneezes and splutters from nine to five. The general rule of thumb is, if your illness is contagious and there’s a chance you’ll make others sick, stay at home. Trust us, both your manager and workmates will thank you for it.   Do make sure you are punctual   If you’re someone who is always late for meetings, set your watch a few minutes early or schedule in enough time to ensure you’ll be punctual. Turning up late can give the impression that you’re unorganised or you simply don’t care about the work at hand, which is a surefire way to strain workplace relationships. And while we’re on the subject of punctuality, make sure you keep meetings to the designated amount of time to avoid annoying other people who may be waiting to use the room after you.   Don’t use your mobile phone at work   Especially if you work in an open plan office, try to refrain from using your mobile phone during working hours. Taking personal phone calls, scrolling through emails during meetings and constant ‘pings’ alerting you to new messages can be highly distracting for others. Keep your phone on silent and go into a private room to take phone calls to avoid disturbing those around you.   Do know your audience   While being sociable and bonding with your colleagues is good for morale, remember to keep your noise levels in check. If you notice that your colleagues are constantly having to use headphones and keep throwing irked sideways glances your way, it might be time to put an end to your office chit chat. After all, not everyone wants to hear about what you got up to at the weekend or the latest office gossip. If you want to have a quick chat with a workmate, head to a quieter spot or wait until lunch. Likewise, if you need to discuss confidential information, suggest heading to another room for more privacy. Take care to be wary of your surroundings and think about who might be listening.