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Office Etiquette (Office Manners)
Office Etiquette or Office Manners is about conducting yourself respectfully and courteously in the office or workplace First impressions are important! You are the ambassador/s of the business
Always act with honesty and dignity Chewing gum and popping bubble gum in the presence of co-workers is neither cool nor dignified Never do it whilst attending customers Wear appropriate office attire, for example correct footwear, not thongs (flip flops) - they are strictly casual or beachwear No exposed midriff to display tattoos and body piercing. Be neat, clean and as conservative as the business requires you to be We are put off by smelly people. So, be sure to shower regularly and use a suitable deodorant Do not cough or sneeze in anyone's direction. Use a tissue, if possible, to contain the germs and then say "Excuse me" The essence of good manners and etiquette is to be respectful and courteous at all times and with everybody Therefore, treat your co-workers, cleaners, maintenance people and others with respect and courtesy Good office etiquette is easily achieved by using common courtesy as a matter of course Keep your interruptions of others to a minimum and always apologise if your intrusion is an interruption of a discussion, someone’s concentration or other activity Show respect for each others workspace. Knock before entering Show appreciation for the slightest courtesies extended to you Be helpful and co-operative with each other Brush up on your computer skills so that you can help others Your employer would gladly invest $24.99 (Aust) to add this magnificent 500 page manual of Step-by-Step Computer Lessons to its reference library to improve staff efficiency Click here to
check it out You will find help from some of the sponsors listed at the top or right side of this page. Check them out as well Speak clearly without shouting. Loud people are a vexation Say, “Please; Thank you; You’re welcome”, as part of your everyday courtesy Be discreet and compassionate in your criticism of a co-worker Don’t gossip about any co-worker’s private life Do not try to sell things to your colleagues 
Don’t hover around while waiting for a co-worker to get off the phone. Leave a note for them to call you or return later It’s not a good idea to take your iPod to your office. It hinders communication Avoid sexist comments about a co-worker’s dress or appearance Surveys show that the office know-it-all proved to be the biggest gripe amongst co-workers. Don't be a know-all Take responsibility for your mistakes, apologise and go about correcting the mistakes Apologise if you are clearly in the wrong. If in doubt, apologise anyway. It’s no big deal Never blame someone else if it is your mistake
If your boss criticises your work, enquire about what precisely is wrong with it. Consider the comments, discuss them amiably if you disagree with the comments but defer to the bosses opinion if he/she is adamant The boss always gets the benefit of the doubt. Don’t argue with the boss (however, there are standards of etiquette for employers too. See Employer Etiquette )
Make new employees feel welcome and comfortable around you. Don't be a busy-body Office etiquette means being thoughtful when interacting with your peers Keep your work area tidy. Try not to be messy Show consideration for other people’s feelings If there is conflict, do not get personal in your remarks It is extremely rude to arrive late for a meeting It is ruder still to not attend at all. Having a good excuse does not exonerate you Do not dominate the meeting. All communication must take place through the chairperson Do not interrupt another speaker Pay attention to the proceedings quietly. Don’t shuffle your papers Do not leave the meeting until it is closed by the chairperson Never be petty or small minded in your behaviour Always be particularly respectful to those older than yourself even if they are junior to you in position Your elders are generally more mature in judgement and life’s experiences and this deserves your respect even in the workplace Practice good manners and office etiquette at every opportunity; even in the
toilet
Practice
cell phone etiquette
Office Kitchen Etiquette Office Etiquette extends to the Office Kitchen which may be cleaned only once a day. If so, clean up after yourself so that the office kitchen remains clean, tidy and hygienic for those using the facilities after you If we do not clean up our own mess we will collectively add to the mess and attract cockroaches and mice to crawl over the cutlery and crockery in the dead of night Who knows what unspeakable bug we may pick up as a consequence You may also be interested in
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Office Etiquette (Workplace Etiquette)
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