Office Etiquettes

Respect colleagues having lunch at their desk.You're sitting there quietly eating a sandwich and perhaps reading a book or a newspaper, when someone decides to come up and ask work-related questions. Treat others on their lunch break as you would like to be treated on yours.

Monitor your speaking volume.People always tend to speak louder than necessary when on a mobile, so make sure you pipe down or go into the corridor/ quiet place such that you do not disturb anyone else. Surely not many people will be interested in your converstions with anyone else on any matter.

Be mindful of others needing the printer and the washrooms/ restrooms."Printer etiquette" is a phrase used widely in South Australia. It refers to giving preferential treatment to workers printing only one page at a time, ahead of those using half an hour and half a forest to print out large documents.

Be sensitive about smells. Limit strong perfume, excessive body odour, and very fragrant flowers -- all of which can offend others. Hot take-away food and instant soups can also be very unpleasant, especially if you're certain number of floors up and relying on air-conditioning rather than being able to open the windows.

Be tidy in the kitchen, pantry areas and work spaces. Remember when your mum would say, "Do you think this is a hotel?" Similarly, at work, no-one wants to have to tidy up after your mess. Don't leave food on the counter or dirty dishes in the sink for extended periods of time.

Keep your music to yourself. Not everyone at your office will be keen to hear your latest discovery, so keep the volume non-existent by wearing headphones.

Stay home with the sniffles. You may feel you should be applauded for bravely soldiering into work when ill, but no-one else will. If you absolutely must appear, be considerate and use tissues and wash your hands frequently to reduce the spread of germs.

Ask before borrowing.Like Gareth in "The Office", some people are fiercely protective of their office supplies. How many times have you been on a scavenger hunt to track down borrowed pens, staplers and scissors?

Be on time. According to a report by the BBC, two-out-of-three people regularly turn up late for meetings. What message does it give to people if you're always late, cancel at short notice or chat with others while a meeting is going on? Showing respect and tact in the workplace will help you build productive relationships.

It looks professional and respectable when people turn out in office smartly and neatly dressed, instead of shabby, torn, dirty clothes and unkept appearances. You would attract more attention and work by being presentable than otherwise.

Office is the second place, after home, where you spend the maximum amount of your time. Thus, to keep yourself up the whole day, it is very necessary for the surrounding things to be in place. One of the things topping the list is a clean and healthy bathroom. Just imagine what would happen to your day, if you enter the office bathroom early morning to realize you are standing in a trash container. The mere sight of a filthy bathroom is enough to mess up your mood as well as your day. So, to ensure your morning is as rosy, when you first set out from home, do make sure everybody around, including you, follows the bathroom etiquette given below.

Do not conduct business or chat loudly on the phone in the wash room, as it might disturb other people.
Always tidy up the bathroom after use. This includes throwing away your trash, wiping excess water from the countertops, etc.
Do not sprinkle on the seat and lift up the lid after use.
Do not forget to flush. Do make sure the pot is rendered clean after flushing.
Do not keep the bathroom busy for long, as people might be waiting.
Treat the office bathroom just like the one at your home, leaving it clean for others.
Do not gossip in the bathroom with your colleagues.
Do not forget to wash your hands.
Do inform the concerned authority, if the supplies are out.

Let us make our workplace fun and enjoyable.