10 Office Faux Pas
In an economic climate where companies are tightening their belts, job security can be shaky. No one wants their name to spring to mind when an employee must be let go. Behavior in the office setting is important. It may be the deciding factor between keeping your job and joining the ranks of the unemployed. Stay clear of the following office faux pas:
- Do not engage in gossip or badmouth colleagues.
- Dress appropriately for your position. Clothing that is too casual, too revealing, torn or dirty will make a negative impression.
- Mind your table manners at a business lunch or group lunch celebration.
- Do not take food from the community refrigerator or lunchroom that is not yours.
- Clean up after yourself. Do not leave dirty food containers or half-eaten food on your desk, the lunchroom table or in the community sink.
- Control your emotions at work. Outbursts of tears, anger or frustration are not acceptable behavior in the office.
- Do not make personal calls during work hours. Use cell phones for personal calls and only make them during breaks. Show consideration to co-workers by moving to a private location when talking on a cell phone.
- Music or the radio should not be audible beyond your desk. Wear earphones and keep the volume low so that you can hear others when they speak to you.
- Keep your shoes on. Never walk around the office barefoot.
- Never microwave fish in the office lunchroom! Microwaving raw onions isn't a great idea either. (We speak from experience!)
Image courtesy of Wolfrage.