5 Office Etiquette Rules You Need to Know

My older coworker, who sits across the office from me, thinks it's OK to come into my cubicle to close the shades when it's sunny outside because she says it bothers her eyes. Her computer faces one way and her phone faces the other way at right angles to the windows, so it's difficult to see how the sun could be in her eyes. I like the sun on a winter morning - it's warm and helps cheer up the office. My plants like it too. But if I open the shades, she will march right over and close them again!

The rudest thing I've ever seen and continue to see in the office, is when someone enters the room and don't speak.

Texting... As a teacher, I hate seeing students text... of course I'm going to take it away from them, those dam things are so annoying. Parents should really limit the amount of texts that students are allowed to use... and if they go over, take it out of their allowance, lunch money, birthday money, whatever! Students should stay focused, and I hate taking away 2-3 phones per class. Even worse... I've seen other teachers text during class too... they're not setting good examples. Leave it for breaks.

I recently worked in a large corporate office in cubicles. Before I got to my cube, I could tell if my two co-workers in the cubes next to me we're already there because they reeked of cigarettes so badly. It was like a permanent nasty cloud around them. I even had to use a laptop that one of these co-workers had used at home the night before, and when I unloaded it from the case, the stench came wafting out of there too. If you are a smoker, don't think a piece of gum will cover the problem. The awful smell follows you everywhere, even if you can't smell it yourself!!

candles in the office and scensy or whatever its called, strong odors make me sick

My co worker takes toilet bathes out of the bowl, after her lunchtime speedwalking sessions!

I have a coworker who eats apples, nuts and anything noisy all day long.
This same co worker has elderly parents, she spends way too much time talking to them, thier doctors, nurses etc. I know way too much about her parents medical condition than anyone would care to know. I don't ask her about how her parents are doing, I already know all too vividly all the gorey details.
Another co-worker like clockwork starts making her weekend plans starting on Thursday afternoon, I never need to ask her on Monday how was your weekend and what did you do.

My co-workers like to pass gas on or near each other, then giggle like school children. They act like its a game, seeing who can do it the longest, loudest or most often.

Unfortunately, we have to recruit our co-workers from the human race. Case closed, end of discussion.

Oh yeah, another thing I don't get is the 'envelope' that comes around. No problem if it's for a birth, a death, an illness. But if you're on your 3rd child, I'm NOT giving you a dime. I might sign the card, but that's it. Some folks have a hangnail and we're getting an envelope sent around. It's all what the management want to do. Some folks have left the job, asked for no send-off party, and there's arguing going on about it to have a party. Talk about a tense setting. So, I choose not to participate in anything. Why should be a hypocrite too. :(

I've watched the office etiquette decline steadily over the past 40 years or so and it is very depressing. Along with dressing appropriately, and practicing good table manners in the company of one's co-workers, we also used to wash our hands...... Nothing is more disturbing than to be finished in the restroom, washing your own hands, only to watch a co-worker come charging out of a stall and leave the restroom without any attempt whatsoever to wash their hands. I have to add the additional (and probably expected) end-note: there was a lot of "stomach flu" going around our offices; no doubt, the result of people not washing their hands and others touching these surfaces (copiers, coffee pots, file drawers, etc.) after them. Oh, and one of these people who didn't want to wash their hands was my boss!!!!!! I was sick a lot because of this person's lazyness.

One more thing - expecting everyone to chip in for something, whether they will use it or not. I once worked in an office where everyone got angry with me because I would not chip in for buying coffee, since I do not drink it. I asked if they ever use the money for anything else (snacks, etc) and they said no, it was just for coffee. Why should I have to chip in for something that I would never take?

Last week I was approaching the cubicle of an associate manager when I heard her loudly shouting and berating someone. I thought it was terrible that she would speak to a co worker that way. It turns out she was on the phone with her very young daughter! I couldn't believe it and to make things worse, her staff members were on the phones trying to take customer service calls. So unprofessional! Shame on you JW

Years ago, before it was illegal for potential employers to ask about future family plans, a male interviewer asked me,"do you want to have kids?". Since I'd already made up my mind I didn't want to work there, I looked him in the eye and asked him if he was making an offer. Interview over. Point made.

Speaking in other languages is the most offensive.
Its not that you may be speaking with someone else in the language...it is that there are people who do not understand and it makes things extremely uncomfortable.

chickenfricka - I have had the same experience, and I totally agree. It should be a company rule that 9for example) either all birthdays get cake, present, whatever, or none do.

I am a contractor at a major home loan company. I have been told to work overtime but told they will not pay overtime wages. Isn't there a law against this? Initially I was told by my boss at the loan company that he would pay overtime but then denied it later stating that I could take off time later. This guy is a total bully, he overloads me with work and constantly IMs me as well as calling me to come to his office. He tells me he will walk me to my car after hours but I have this very bad feeling about this individual. He really scares me. He messes up my reports. . .there is no escape from this bully . . .I am a 59 year old woman and do not know what to do next.. . If anyone has any suggestions please let me know. I need this job but I don't need to be bullied constantly. Please help!!! All suggestions welcome. .. .even jokes . Smiles would be good.

I didn't mind running for lunch and asking my co-workers, but on one occasion my girlfriend and I were discussing where we wanted to go for lunch (we decided on a local deli) and my boss came up to me right before we left and handed me a list of orders. She had overheard where we were going and took it upon herself to ask all of my coworkers what they wanted and assumed that I would "just pick up everyone's lunch" since I was eating there anyway. I was so angry that I told her our plans had been canceled and I was going home for lunch. That was so rude!

I volunteer at a veterans hospital and one of my many pet peeves is people walking up for information when I have a clearly posted sign saying closed for lunch on the desk in big bold letters and another is people around the desk talking really loud. I have taken the liberty of shutting the phone off on lunch and after lunch due 2 this as people do not seem 2 read signs even in bold and size 28 letters which are double underlined at that

asd