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There are certain things one should and shouldn’t do on the job. As you spend more time among your peers than you do at home, it’s awfully tempting let your hair down and kick your feet up –but don’t fall into the trap! There are still major differences between your work and personal life. You can get fired from your job!
Do you know where the line of professionalism lies, or the type of office etiquette you should practice? Here are 10 do’s and don’ts to keep yourself in check.
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DO arrive on time
Punctuality can reveal how serious you take your job. Sure random things happen here and there, but if you are consistently arriving late, you just might want to rethink your AM routine. Do everything you can to arrive on time because you never know who is watching.
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DON’T blast your music
Spotify, Pandora, and other musical outlets are an awesome way to pass time at your desk. Sometimes they may be the calm we need to not go off on someone in an Omarosa way. If you need a musical ambiance to get you through the day, make sure you keep it to yourself with headphones or a low-volume setting. Just make sure you can hear the phone ring.
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DO keep personal phone calls to a minimum
Your job is not the place for you to gab on the phone with your beau or bestie — so limit all personal phone calls. This is a huge no-no and should be limited to emergencies and specific circumstances like checking in on the sick or shut-in, or making sure a child home alone is okay. If you have to make a call, treat it like the CIA is listening and keep it very short.
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DO follow up with others in a timely manner
Even if you are up to your eyeballs in work, a quick follow up can go a very long way. Shoot a quick email to a client or colleague letting them know you received their correspondence and will get back to them as soon as you are able. Totally ignoring someone – even unintentionally might convey you don’t care about the task at hand. As you would want someone to acknowledge you, pay it forward with the same gesture.
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DON’T use work email for non-professional matter
Like a personal phone call, work email accounts are best left for job-related subject matter. This is probably a given for most, but also includes back and forth chatter with co-workers on things not pertaining to the office. Heaven forbid you accidentally forward a colorful email to the wrong person — the outcome can have serious consequences.
Note: In many cases, companies exercise the right to monitor electronic communications. If you don’t want your boss to know about it, don’t write about it.
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DO rise above office gossip
No office is ever void of drama. You’ll hear rumblings of inner-office battles, personal scandals and other juice that could have Wendy Williams’ Hot Topics team calling you up for an interview. As much as you would like to stay in the know, keep out of business that’s not your own at work. Participating in hearsay has been known to have consequences that could send you to Human Resources. If you absolutely must dish, do so outside of the office at a happy hour (you can blame it on the alcohol).
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DO ask before taking
How do you feel when you get back to your desk and notice something is missing? Does it make you feel violated? Think about this the next time you need to use something of your colleague’s without asking. When borrowing an office supply or important document, always get permission before snatching. If they aren’t around, leave a Post-It or shoot a quick email so they aren’t caught off guard. Always remember to give it back in a timely manner.
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DO take responsibility
Don’t be one of those people who has to pass the buck on someone else so blame won’t come your way. It’s immature and unprofessional. Be a person of integrity and take responsibility for both your achievements and mistakes. If you are wrong, admit it and apologize when necessary.
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DON’T waste time (over) socializing
Honey, if you are on Facebook all day with your work piling up, you, girlfriend, are in the wrong. It’s important to socialize but not when it causes your productivity to decrease. Just say no to social media and text messages. You aren’t getting paid to pin, update your status or tweet so do it on your own time.
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DO be courteous and respectful
You don’t have to like everyone you work with, but should be respectful in any situation. Show everyone your professional side by focusing on your task. Never get personal no matter how tempting it may seem. If you do, you are only giving the person power of your emotions and image in the workplace. Should there be an issue, discuss it directly with the other party (be discreet) and work towards a solution so the project doesn’t suffer. Rise above all drama and be the best teamplayer you can be.
