If you find yourself thinking that things at work are too casual these days, you may be right – but you may also be showing your age. On the other hand, Millennials could learn a thing or two from their senior co-workers in how to conduct themselves in the work world. Business etiquette – whether at the company picnic or in the office – is something that everyone should abide by to ensure that professionalism is maintained at any occasion that involves your colleagues and supervisors.

Most companies have policies and procedures to deal with the big ticket items such as Conflict of Interest, Dress Code and Attendance but what about things like not eating crunchy or smelly food at your desk? We spend more time with our co-workers than we do our family and friends – it makes sense to make each other’s lives as easy as possible.

So what are the most important office rules? Here are some of the basics that you shouldn’t ignore:

1. Acknowledge your co-workers’ contributions – team work is important and trying to take all the credit for work done just makes you look like a self-indulgent jerk.

2. Beware of smells – don’t load on the perfume and don’t bring last nights’ leftover garlic or fish dish for your lunch. What smells delicious to you might not to your office mate. Think ahead and of others – not just yourself. And while we are on the subject of food – don’t sit at your desk crunching carrot sticks or chips all day either.

3. Remember your spelling and grammar – these days people get lazy with the language used in texts and emails from their handheld devices. Business emails should be written like a formal letter. Company emails can be kept forever, so be sure you are confident that the information you are sending out is a good representation of yourself and your company.

4. Don’t be loud, interrupt or chatter for no reason – these are all rude, no matter where you are. If you are following someone back to their desk to finish a story, take the hint and get back to your own desk. Personal space is hard to come by in today’s open offices so be conscious of your surroundings and keep your discussions to a minimum so that you avoid disrupting those around you.

5. Plan your attire according to the office norms – you should never be the most casual person at the office. What you wear to work says a lot about how you present yourself, not only to customers but also to your colleagues and supervisors. If you want to be taken seriously, or even considered for a promotion, dress in the style of the position you are seeking to attain.

6. Don’t share too many personal details at work – this includes your co-workers, not just your boss. No one needs to know about your latest medical mystery or messy breakup. Opening yourself up can be a good thing among friends, but if you want to maintain a professional image at work, minimize your vulnerability.

7. Stay home if you are sick – sharing your illness with the office doesn’t always show your dedication to your job; instead it shows a lack of respect for the others around you. Of course you can’t stay home every day you feel lousy, but as a rule stay away if you are contagious. No one needs to hear you blowing your nose all day at your desk. A bottle of hand sanitizer on your desk shows your colleagues you care about your health as well as theirs.

8. Don’t be late – being punctual shows that you put a high importance on your work. Constantly arriving after your start time shows that you don’t value your job or your employer.

9. Clean up and be clutter free – leaving your dirty dishes in the lunch-room sink and having a messy desk makes you look unprofessional. It should be common sense but if it isn’t, listen up – always wash your mug, throw out last weeks’ lunch from the communal fridge and don’t let your desk look like a recycling bin.

10. Sign up for company social functions – unless you have a good excuse, you should sign up for all company social activities. Don’t wait to see who else is going, and do volunteer to help out. These events are important to advancing your career, often more than you think. Take the opportunity to show your supervisors that you are engaged in the business.

Malena Tutte, CHRP
HRG Human Resources Group (a division of MPC Consulting Ltd.)
2075 Henry Avenue West, Unit #23
Sidney, BC V8L 1T2
Email Malena
250-655-0474 x.231

Malena Tutte, CHRP, is a Human Resource Advisor at HRG Human Resources Group with extensive human resource generalist experience in the private sector as a business owner in the food processing industry. She has the ability to find creative and effective solutions to short and long term business challenges. For more information on HRG Human Resources Group and what our team does to help businesses navigate their human resource challenges, please visit our website.

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