Office Etiquette Essentials

My co-worker's perfume is absolutely disgusting, yet she insists in dowsing herself in it at least twice daily. However dealing with a person that smells bad is tolerable, getting a migraine that leads to nausea and vomiting is not! Before you put on perfume in the office, consider how it effects other. And there is an added bonus in it for you, you will no longer reek of cheap crappy perfume you bought for $5 on the street! It’s a win win!!

Posted by Julie Tue Jan 19, 2010 11:28pm PST

"I'll tell you what is truly offensive on the job. (1) Speaking in another language in front of a coworker who does not speak the language. How do I know they aren't talking about me?"

Racist much? Would you also be offended if you saw a co-worker send a text message or an email? What about if you saw a co-worker using sign-language? Would you be equally as offended as if they were speaking any other language? Private conversations are private whether they're in English or not.

I know this is far down the list and may not be seen... When someone says you can't wear perfume because of peoples' allergies it's because you wear WAY too much. Unless someone right near you has bad allergies to perfume, wearing a normal amount doesn't bother anyone.
I could go on forever about rude co-workers that live in their own world. The two biggest are people getting very loud when I am working on a helpdesk trying to hear a user on the phone, and then getting nasty when I have the nerve to politely say something (their conversations are never about work). And the women that sit right near me talking very loudly about their personal and medical issues (that I would be embarrassed to tell my best friend while drunk) and making me sick to my stomach. And, of course, being nasty and ignoring me when I politely ask them to please change the subject.
Working in an office (more than one was this way) has made me hate people.

Nurses can not wear perfume. It may throw your patient into respitorary arrest. I've personally noticed respiratory distress after my preceptor visited my patient/client. She had on a very mild pleasant scent.

To Julie, who is on disability from continuing back problems after surgery: first of all, I can relate because I've got back pain all the time and I know like millions of people the end result is going to be surgery some day with real mixed results, like you have had - so I really sympathize, and verging on empathize, believe me!

However, I can also relate to the office etiquette angle, if you can call denigrating people with serious health problems bad "etiquette." More like a violation of the Americans With Disabilities Act, in my opinion!

I had similar remarks when I had to be out for breast cancer surgery, despite my employer and HR having nearly three weeks' notice that I needed to be out for three weeks. My boss didn't want a "stranger" in my place, so they hijacked another employee who was very agreeable and enthusiastic to THEM when they asked. However, when she was sent to me for last-minute orientation to my desk and job, the day before my surgery (of course at that point you don't know yet how bad your cancer is), she allowed as to how she didn't like being "pimped out like this" to cover what she considered to be a lower-level position. When the boss passed by she was all smiles, and management thought she was great for "stepping up" this way, but she made sure I knew this assignment was an insult.

I was so "zoned" at that point about the next day's cancer surgery and what stage I would turn out to be, I ignored her surly comments. Obviously, three years later -- and I'm fine -- I haven't forgotten her little slip in "etiquette." Believe me, I hear ya, and I wish you all the best in your recovery from some very delicate and high-stakes surgery. You deserved better from your nasty co-workers.

AimeeM...smoking is a right.....

I hate to break it to you, but if someone at work tells you not to wear perfume or to wear less perfume, it is not because it is triggering someone's allergies. It's because it smells bad. That is the nicest way of saying, "Your perfume is nasty." Haven't you ever seen 'The Office' with Phylis?

I have lived in many different neighborhoods in my life. Some "really clicked"! It was a pleasure chatting and visiting and doing social things together. But that doesn't happen everywhere.....THAT'S LIFE ! Get over it...MOVE ON. AND ....If you were focussed on your work, the trivialities wouldn't be a big deal at all. Once a day, take one minute to take yourself out of the "center of your world" and look at your surroundings objectively. I guarantee you, you're not perfect! Neither am I.

Wow...this article is great and all...but where are the tips?

My idea of office etiquette is DO NOT tell me I can't wear perfume if you (the employer) hires smokers-smoker reak and the "your perfume may set off someone else's allergies doesn't fly!!! Smokers aggravate MY allergies!!!! Smoking isn't a right! If you get to smoke (even in your own home, not at work, your clothes and hair still reak of smoke and aggravate allergies) then I get to wear perfume!

I have probably the most considerate co-workers. There are two individuals in my office who have allergies to fragrance, one sneezes and the other one gets terrible headaches.They are never nasty about anything and I would never want to make them suffer.We all try to be considerate of one another.It is a pleasure to be in such an environment.

These articles are as worthless as the people about whom they are written!

What the **** ever happened to insightful, valuable, creative, worthy Human Resources Departments?

I have an officemate who is higher than my possition she's so annoyed?parranoid like what other officemate used to call her. I dont know on how i can help this person? Most of the time she keeps batting in even if she not included in the conversation she, what happened during conversation even if she not envolved the two other person conversing get mads at her ofcourse. The worst scenario is that she keeps of doing it to everybody even to our Boss, she doens't have respect to herself moreso that she doesnt respect other. Speaking of work ethics in the office, my Boss asked me to research some rules on how she can be told without being heart and would be reacting the way around. This employee and her husband come to office very regular eventhough hes not one our employee he comes in our office very open and from their there are times they treat themself as if they are in thier own home showing agrument which are none concern of the office and our officemate heard their arguments loud and clear which distruct our officemate and everybody commented on how we can correct this. My officemate starts reacting but my concern is that what/how can i do a solution to that i will not identify myself?

There is a very basic rule on how to get along with others in the work place...."Treat others the way you want to be treated". Most people want to work with others who are considerate, respectful, friendly and who handle their fair share of the work. It's not that hard.

Every morning we have our meeting. I work at a car dealership, so the men in the meeting really don't care about office etiquette. I can't not tell you how many times the general manager sits there and texts. I is the most annoying thing that I have to deal with. Not only does he texts during the meeting, but we have sat there 20 mins waiting for him to start. When ever I make a comment about it, everyone looks at me like I have two heads!!!

I work in a building of cubicles. I do not smoke or wear perfume. Both give me horrible migraines. My cube neighbor uses very strong smelling lotion daily. Why do I have to suffer and be sick every day because she chooses to stink it up with her lotion.

In regards to AimeeM. and Erins comments concerning perfume. If management has asked her to stop wearing perfume it's probably that she is wearing too much. AimeeM's perfume may not be nasty as you put it but it probably is that her perfume is too strong. Perfume is meant to be worn so that you only smell it on someone if your close to them. Think subtle. Unfortunately people wear it so that EVERYONE smells it even 3 doors down from your office. When home, try spraying the perfume in the air and walk through it. You'll end up smelling very nice but not overpowering.

STRONG PERFUMES - ESPECIALLY ESTE LAUDER - MAKE ME DIZZY AND
FEEL LIKE I AM SEASICK.

I WAS ON A PLANE ONCE AND THE SKANK IN FRONT OF ME SPRAYED HERSELF EVERY 20 MINUTES UNTIL I NEARLY FAINTED..

one of my co-workers when she wants to say something to you, she keeps right on walking, slowly but does keep moving.
But her "favorite" part is discussing anything between customers.
You try to dicuss anything, is "has to be" between customers. So tired
of that!

I guess picking lint out of your belly button during a boring presentation could be considered rude. I only did it once...I swear