office workers typing on computers at their cubicle desksBy Petra Guglielmetti
Even if you're not exactly Employee of the Year, all your colleagues love you…or do they? With crowded, open-floor-plan offices becoming the norm, it's easier than ever for employees to get on one another's nerves-and commit at-work etiquette faux pas. Here are some things your coworkers probably won't tell you but secretly wish they could; are you guilty of any of these common workplace annoyances? Photo by: Thinkstock
It'd be nice if you'd refill the paper tray after printing 16 copies of your 42-page report.
Shared office appliances aren't the most pleasant creatures to contend with (paper jam! Replace ink cartridge!). But neither is the employee who has given up on trying to help the system run smoothly. That would include reporting a jam, especially when you know your print job prompted it, refilling the paper when it's empty and removing and recycling excess printouts from the tray. "Leave it as functional as you found it, and if you break it and can't fix it, own up and call the printer guy," says etiquette expert Amy Alkon, author of I See Rude People: One Woman's Battle to Beat Some Manners into Impolite Society. Before you even hit that print button, consider whether you really need a hard copy of, say, every email you send when there are electronic backup methods available. Skipping that step will free up printers for coworkers who really need them and maybe save a small rainforest or two.
Find out how to curb paper clutter.
I dread 11:50 a.m., when you start peeling the hard-boiled egg for your salad.
Forget the three-martini lunch-these days, lots of people don't ditch their desks for more than a few minutes, so eating over one's keyboard is an increasing occupational hazard. If you sit thisclose to coworkers and/or heat stuff in the shared kitchenette, avoid foods that have a powerful or long-lingering scent (microwave popcorn's a common offender-buy a pre-popped bag instead). "Imagine you're on a dinner date. Because of the smell, you probably wouldn't order raw onions or curry," says etiquette expert Henry Alford, author of Would It Kill You to Stop Doing That? A Modern Guide to Manners. "The bottom line is you don't want to distract coworkers." On the topic of food and drinks in shared spaces, please sponge your leftover-spaghetti spatters off the microwave, which is not, in fact, a self-cleaning appliance. And don't be the one who takes the last cup of coffee without setting a fresh pot to brew, unless you want to face the wrath of under-caffeinated colleagues.
Believe it or not, we don't enjoy listening to you bicker with your husband on the phone.
They call it a "personal" call for a reason-not all your coworkers want to become intimately acquainted with the details of your irritable bowel syndrome or listen to you yap about how your sister-in-law copied your daughter's birthday party theme. Maintain a little mystery (and professionalism) by keeping your soap operas out of the office; reserve personal calls for urgent situations, keep 'em snappy and use your indoor voice. "Only make personal calls that are under three minutes long and whose drama won't impede business," says Alford. "If you know a call might get heated or lengthy, take it outside." On a similar note: It's a rare business call that requires utilizing the speakerphone feature. Try a conference call instead if multiple coworkers are involved.
Discover how to get past the same old fights.
It's noble that you brush your teeth after lunch, but it's gross that you leave a trail of toothpaste spit in the ladies' room sink.
Whenever possible, grooming tasks should be done at home. Forget grossing people out with the clip-clip-clip of nail-trimming-even filing that jagged nail during a meeting can ick people out (not to mention make you seem uninterested in the discussion). "The only personal hygiene tasks that are acceptable to do at your desk are pushing your hair out of your eyes and applying lipstick-just don't do it in a sexy way. It's not a show," advises Alkon. And while brushing and flossing your teeth after lunch is admirable, be sure to rinse away and toss the evidence.
No one wants to see what's under your see-through shirt.
Certain items, like low-rider pants that reveal a bit of bum every time you lean over and tops that show more cleavage than your average cocktail dress, are always work-inappropriate, no matter what the specific dress code states. "Unless you work for tips, no cleavage in the office," says etiquette consultant Jodi Smith, author of The Etiquette Book: A Complete Guide to Modern Manners. "This means you should cover your boobs, butt and toes." While dress sandals might be acceptable in some casual offices come spring, flip-flops are generally a no-no. It's also important to make sure your professional attire fits properly and looks polished. "Clothes that are too tight can distract, and clothes with rips in them-no matter how trendy-will look unprofessional unless you work at a hair salon or some other place where they play Adele over the P.A.," says Alford.
Steal these 9 secrets of wardrobe stylists.
You're not a hero for refusing to ever take a sick day.
The only thing worse than the person who's constantly calling in fake-sick is the person who never calls in-even when her trash bin is overflowing with soggy tissues and she has to communicate via Post-It notes due to laryngitis. While you might feel you deserve a medal for saving colleagues from covering for you, chances are, they're going to catch what you have and end up behind on work anyway. "You're spreading germs by touching things you don't even realize you're touching," notes Alkon, who suggests staying home and using Skype to call in and take care of necessary business.
Providing the musical soundtrack for the office is not part of your job description.
You pride yourself on your awesome iTunes playlists-but consider that perhaps Bob in the next cubicle doesn't find Ke$ha quite as "energizing" at 10 a.m. Even if quiet radio-playing is allowed, get neighbors' permission first and always keep the volume low. "People have different abilities to filter audio litter," explains Alkon. If music motivates or calms you, earphones are a possibility, but even those can offend. "Headphones aren't great because they make you sonically impenetrable to your colleagues, but if you're able to hear others while using earbuds, sure, do this," says Alford. "But run this idea by your supervisor and colleagues first." What's the only thing worse than being forced to listen to music you didn't choose? Listening to someone whistling, humming or singing for eight straight hours a day. If you have one of these habits, keep it in check.
Check out 9 more habits that can do more harm than good.
The sign says "Restroom," not "Conference Room C."
There's always going to be some at-the-sink gossip among work friends (even though this is usually better left for a coffee break), but in general, "Avoid conversation in the bathroom, except of the most trivial and fleeting kind," says Alford. It's particularly inappropriate to launch an over-the-stall chat about last month's sales figures. "Save these conversations for spaces where there's nothing to flush," advises Alkon.
Yes, I noticed that you took credit for my idea in the meeting today.
It may seem like a natural part of getting ahead in the dog-eat-dog business world, but sneaky behavior like accepting credit for a coworker's idea (even in a passive way) can undermine your credibility in the long run. "When you have a reputation as a backstabber, people will go out of their way to punish you," says Alkon. Besides, "research has shown you're more likely to get ahead by being generous." So give credit where it's due. Smith gives this advice: When you propose an idea in a group email with coworkers, who then expand upon the idea and help develop it, acknowledge that the idea originated with you when you meet with your boss ("I'm glad I launched this conversation!"), but mention that others played a part ("Everyone's suggestions helped.").
Learn the 10 most important rules of office etiquette.
Original article appeared on WomansDay.com.
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