Do you find that your colleagues are hovering around you when you're on the phone? Do you feel that you are not being respected when you are doing something urgent and people just barge in on you?
If you work in a cubicle, here are some guidelines to follow for good cubicle etiquette:
If you work in a cubicle, here are some guidelines to follow for good cubicle etiquette:
- You see the person you wish to talk to on the phone. Please go back to them later, once they have gotten off of the phone, since hovering over them will make them feel uncomfortable.
- Do you listen to music while at work? Please do a favour to people around you and use earphones. Some people prefer peace and quiet.
- If you need to talk on the phone, make sure that you keep your voice to a lower volume. Not everyone is interested in listening to your conversations, especially the personal ones.
- When you are talking on the phone, try to keep your personal calls short, since some people have a tendency to eavesdrop on your conversations.
- Turn off your cellular phone or put it on vibrate mode, since it disrupts others around you.
- It can be offensive to other staff if you swear or put down people in conversations. Keep this either to yourself or speak of it outside of the office.
- If you are decorating your cubicle, make sure to place items that are not offensive to others, since something to you might be funny, but offensive to others.
- If you are going to enter another staff member's cubicle, make sure to knock first. Just think of it as entering an office.
- Be considerate of others and either make a phone call to the person who you wish to speak with or walk over to their cubicle. Don't speak across the room, since this can disrupt others.
- If you need to warm up your lunch, please try to keep it in the lunch room. Some foods that you may think of as pleasant might be upsetting to others.
- If you need to borrow items from another person's desk, please make sure to ask them first. If it's urgent, leave them a note stating what you borrowed.
- Overhearing phone conversations is a no-no. If you do overhear a phone conversation, make sure to keep it to yourself.
If you would like more tips such as these, please read my articles on gossiping in the workplace.
If you have any questions, suggestions or comments, please feel free to click on the "comments" link below and leave some feedback.
Until next time,
Take care - of your clutter!
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6 comments for this post
Although your comments are valid, I think it really depends on the office culture which can differ greatly between organizations. It's up to the individual to analyze this culture in addition to the individual relationships around them. I've been in offices where loud music is acceptable with people shouting over cubicles at each other, which was perfectly acceptable - it made the environment vibrant and fosters team unity. On the other hand, I've been in offices where I could hear a pin drop.
I agree with portions of this as well, since "some" offices are created so that there is a radio blaring or what have you.
I used to work as a bank teller and had the radio in the background as well, but from my past 9 years of experience working in offices (and I went through quite a few different companies and locations) is that "most" offices are quiet, for the most part.
I work in a cube farm of engineers. I am surprised at how many around me have distracting or annoying habits. One lady apparently has long fingernails, because when she types it is a constant series of loud clicking. This is extremely distracting and annoying. How can someone be so incredibly inconsiderate? Does she actually think everyone in the entire room can't hear that???? Ugh!
Then there's the person right next to me who chews gum with their mouth OPEN. The constant noise from that drives me up a wall. Then there's the guy who often makes very loud throat clearing noises - especially lately since he has been SICK while still working here.
I've been keeping myself sane by putting on headphones with music on at least a medium volume level. I think I'm going to have to invest in one of those noise-cancelling headphones that completely seal around the ears. In the mean time I'm going to discretely tape up a copy of your etiquette rules somewhere public.
Right now I'm sitting in my cubicle and the "new person" has turned on her radio and is humming loudly off-key...I'm wearing my headphones and I can still hear her!
The last person that sat at there chomped on popcorn or sunflower seeds WITH THE SHELLS!!!! Or she was yawning loudly or crunching ice!
As far as having loud music and talking creating teamwork? Bologna! You can't convince me that everyone loves the same kind of music and conversation and is productive all at the same time.
What makes that right?
I've had this same situatino before, where a person would constantly hum. I took it to my manager, since I didn't want to embarrass the person and she took care of it.
Give it a try, it might just work. If it doesn't, at least you tried.
Thanks,
Richard
You forgot to list perfumes. People love to wear overpowering scents which makes some people sick to the gut. The world has to smell their cologne. ek!