WORKPLACE ETIQUETTE
AVOID THESE ANNOYING BEHAVIOURS TO STAY ON SIDE WITH YOUR WORKMAKES
WORK standards may have relaxed during lockdowns but people are being reminded to heed the unspoken rules of workplace etiquette as they navigate a return to the office.
Exclusive insights from global data research firm Dynata reveal workers who check social media and phone messages during face-to-face business meetings and conversations are the most likely to raise the ire of colleagues, with two-thirds (66 per cent) annoyed by the habit.
Similarly frustrating are remote workers who use video conferences to answer emails and check non-workrelated websites (41 per cent).
Talking over others and failing to mute after speaking during video conferences are also common peeves (43 per cent and 34 per cent, respectively).
With companies now transitioning back to the workplace, and with many young people entering the workforce for the first time, experts say there are things to know when it comes to meeting social standards at work.
AVOID PERSONAL MESSAGING AND SOCIAL MEDIA APPS
While technology is essential to the workplace, it also has the potential to cause the most offence, Australian Institute of Management workplace expert Professor Gary Martin says.
Martin says “phubbing” – the term coined for phone snubbing or reading text messages while engaged in faceto-face discussions – is particularly rude and should be avoided.
“When it comes to technology, most employers prefer that employees keep personal instant messaging to a minimum during work time and the same applies to social media – unless posts are related to someone’s role,” he says.
Martin says those continuing to work from home should avoid becoming distracted during video conferencing – a habit which is all too often noticed by colleagues.
“With more and more employers allowing employees to work remotely, workers need to ensure they present themselves in a positive light when on a Zoom or Teams call,” he says.
“That includes remaining completely focused on a video meeting instead of attempting to multitask, for example (by) looking at non-related websites or answering emails.”
RESPECT THE OFFICE FRIDGE
Martin says the shared office fridge has long been the cause of “chilled relations” between colleagues and has its own set of rules to be obeyed.
“While there are numerous unspoken fridge rules, the rule of rules is simple,” he says. “Never, ever touch, remove, discard or eat someone else’s lunch and morning tea items, including their soy milk. Never.”
He warns eating reheated meals with “pungent” odours at your desk is also unlikely to win any friends.
BEHAVE AT SOCIAL FUNCTIONS
With social restrictions easing, Workskil Australia chief executive Nicole Dwyer says attending social functions with work colleagues is great for building workplace culture – so long as you keep yourself in check.
“You don’t want to put yourself in a position where your behaviour has you embarrassed to face your colleagues,” she says.
“Two main considerations to keep in mind are having respect for others and their belongings and thinking about how your actions may be perceived by others.
“Employees may consider finding a trusted colleague or mentor in the business who knows the culture well, so they can quietly ask them questions about the company etiquette.”
‘THAT REALLY ANNOYS ME’
It’s the simple sound of a text notification that can turn marketing executive Neil Soriano’s mood sour.
“For the most part, I’m pretty easy going but when you’re having a conversation with someone and they turn to check a message on their phone, that really annoys me,” he says.
“I’m just stuck standing there, awkwardly waiting (for the other person to finish texting).
“It is pretty bothersome.” Soriano, 24, who works at the fivestar Sofitel Adelaide hotel, says he learned the rules of workplace etiquette early in his career, as a food and beverage attendant.
“Restaurant workers are pretty good, for the most part, because when you’re facing hotel guests, you just have to know about etiquette,” he says.
“I think anyone working in customer service does develop good habits. We know how to be cordial and we generally know how to do the right thing.”
Soriano says work standards usually come down to common sense.
“But we all know that common sense isn’t always common,” he says.
“Take social media: in my department, we are on social media all the time (for work) and that’s fine.
“But if it’s not in your job description, then being on social media means you’re not really working.”