Boost Employee Morale With Good Manners

Office Etiquette Resolutions for 2015

No matter where we find ourselves or in what social situations, good etiquette is required. Good etiquette allows us to show our respect towards others, by respecting their comfort and their privacy. As the New Year approaches, improving office etiquette could be your workplace resolution for 2015 especially if you work with people who are prone to bad manners. Bad manners can wreak havoc and be bad for business because they display a lack of respect and negatively affect employee morale and productivity. Here is a list of office etiquette rules everyone should follow courtesy of the Employee Benefit Advisor:

1. Don’t be a lunch thief. If the food isn’t yours don’t eat it.
2. Respect the caffeine. Replenish the coffee pot if you are the one who empties it.
3. Respect the weekend. Don’t bombard colleagues at 4:55pm on a Friday afternoon with a last minute project.4. Do your job. If some extra time is needed to finish a project, come in early, stay later to get it done. It’s character building.
5. Keep the speakerphone to a minimum. Close an office door, keep the conversation as brief as possible out of respect to others.
6. If someone is nice enough to bring in treats, share the joy. Don’t eat more than your fair share of snacks.
7. Don’t be late if you can avoid it. If you are going to be late call ahead. That’s the least you can do.
8. Exercise aroma awareness. Be aware of office smells: food, hygiene and trash in or around your desk.
9. Use reply-all sparingly. Ask yourself before sending if it is necessary to include everyone on every communication.
10. When giving feedback do it in the appropriate arena. Praise in public, criticize in private.
11. Keep it off social media. Work drama should remain in the office.

The worst scenario is to allow bad manners to continue. If allowed, it sends the wrong message to other employees that this behavior is okay, when it is not okay at all. It is important to speak out, with respect and kindness of course, to ensure good manners trump bad manners, which will help to create a better working environment for all. 

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