2. 2
Objectives
To define workplace etiquette and stress the
importance of creating a work environment
conducive to positive interaction among
employees
To identify behaviors considered important for
maintaining workplace etiquette
To develop skills in addressing coworkers’
behaviors that are unpleasant, rude or
offensive
3. 3
Etiquette: Some Definitions
“The practices and forms prescribed by social
convention or by authority.”
“Rules governing socially acceptable
behavior.”
4. 4
How Do You Score?
1. I say “good morning” to co-workers when I enter the
office each morning.
2. I clean up after I use the kitchen, cafeteria or snack
area.
3. I say “thank you” when someone does something
nice for me.
4. I arrive on time for meetings.
5. I keep my anger under control.
5. 5
6. I think it’s okay to tell jokes about race or sex as long
as they are tasteful.
7. I think it’s okay to “drop in” on co-workers if I feel I
have something I want to tell or ask them.
8. If I send an email message, I make sure that it is
relevant, appropriate, clear, and checked for spelling
and grammatical errors.
9. I am respectful of co-workers’ workspace, e.g., not
using their desks or computer, separating my
belongings from theirs.
10. I make promises to others that I am unable to keep.
6. 6
Scoring
Q 1-5: 1 point for True; 0 for False
Q 6, 7: 1 point for False; 0 for True
Q 8, 9: 1 point for True; 0 for False
Q 10: 1 point for False; 0 for True
7. 7
Score Interpretation
0-5 Uh oh, it’s time for charm school. Seriously, you seem to be
committing a number of etiquette faux pas. Hasn’t anyone said
anything to you about your behavior? If you keep it up, your
career is probably going nowhere (and you may not have a
job).
6-8 Not bad. You seem to have your office manners mostly in
control. But don’t stop here—take a look at areas you can
improve upon and you should see your career rolling forward.
9-10 Congratulations! You are probably one of those people
described as “a pleasure to work with.” Your mannerly behavior
and sensitivity to others should move you far along on the road
to success.
9. 9
Employees Are Bothered by Co-workers Who:
Have poor personal hygiene
Leave old and/or spoiled food in the refrigerator
Don’t clean up after using the office kitchen, sink, restroom or
appliances
Leave trash or personal belongings in other people’s work spaces
Don’t follow through when they say they will do something
Don’t acknowledge you unless you speak to them directly
Use language that is overly familiar, e.g., calling you “honey” or
“dear”
Wear clothing that is dirty, too casual, too seductive or distracting in
some other way
Flirt with coworkers, vendors or customers
Wear too much perfume or after-shave
10. 10
More Examples
Drop in on you while you are working and don’t ask if it’s okay to
interrupt
Habitually arrive late at meetings
Gossip
Have outbursts of anger or yell and curse
Say negative things about other employees behind their backs
Brag
Talk too much about their personal lives
Speak too loudly on the telephone
Eat food at their desks that has a strong smell
Tell jokes that involve race, gender, sexual orientation. religion,
ethnicity or national origin
11. 11
And More
Are too “touchy feely”
Invade your personal space
Send sloppy email messages
Borrow things but forget to return them
Play music in their cubicle that others can hear
Forget to return the restroom key or put it in the wrong place
(or even take it home by mistake)
Don’t say “thank you”
Waste your time
Don’t return phone calls
12. 12
And More
Keep asking you the same questions even though you have given
them answers previously
Start meetings late and/or don’t end them on time
Don’t pick up their completed copies from the copy room or pick up
pages they have sent to the printer.
Don’t check faxes or copies they have made to make sure that all
the pages are theirs
Carry on loud conversations outside of your office or cubicle
Borrow money and forget to return it
Frequently complain and/or criticize others
Block walkways or doorways when carrying on conversations
Don’t pay attention when you are speaking to them
13. 13
And More
Keep you waiting
Leave you voice mail messages that are difficult to
understand (in particular, those who say their phone numbers
so quickly you have to listen three times to get them right)
Use emoticons (those little faces that express an emotion) in
office email
Leave the coffee pot empty
Forward you on email everything they think is interesting
without asking you if you want to get this information
14. 14
Scenario #1
A few employees who speak a language other than English
sometimes communicate with one another in that language in
your workplace. Some employees think this is fine and none
of their business. Other employees feel uncomfortable and
left out when in the presence of these employees. What do
you think? Does workplace etiquette demand that employees
should always speak in a language that everyone can
understand?
15. 15
Scenario #2
Helen, a new employee, shares a cubicle with Dorothy, a long-time
employee of the company. Dorothy had the cubicle to
herself for quite a long time and had been using the whole space
as if it were hers. When Helen first moved in, Dorothy cleared off
the second desk area. As time passes, however, she has been
slowly taking over more and more of Helen’s space. Helen now
feels that she is working in Dorothy’s cubicle, not a shared
cubicle. Helen has made a few comments like, “Gee, it’s getting
cramped in here,” but Dorothy either doesn’t get the point or
doesn’t want to. What should Helen do now?
16. 16
Scenario #3
John’s co-worker in the next cubicle has a habit of
constantly clearing his throat, snorting and making other
unpleasant sounds. John has tried to ignore this behavior,
but finds it extremely distracting. Should John just work
harder to ignore this behavior (he wonders if perhaps the
coworker has some health problem that is causing this);
counter-attack by making equally unpleasant noises; speak
to the co-worker; or go directly to HR to complain?
17. 17
Scenario #4
Your office has provided a spacious kitchen with a large
refrigerator, a microwave and a coffee maker. Most of the
employees using this space are respectful of others—i.e.,
they clean up after themselves, remove old food from the
refrigerator and make a new pot of coffee when the pot is
empty. Unfortunately, there are a few employees who are
discourteous and careless. The behavior of this small group
has led to both resentment among their tidier coworkers and
annoyance that everyone else has to pick up after them.
What should be done to improve this situation?
18. 18
Some Final Thoughts
You don’t have to read Miss Manners to learn how to
have good manners. Workplace etiquette makes the
work environment respectful, pleasant, and
productive.