Workplace Decorum

While many of us find comic relief in Dilbert’s workplace sufferings, unfortunately in the real world these stresses decrease employee satisfaction and workplace productivity. Creating an atmosphere of respect and consideration is absolutely essential to foster a healthy positive environment and to ensure that work not only gets done, but gets done well.

Workplace decorum is not about strict rules, but rather behavioral guild liens employees are expected to follow in order to convey respect towards others and the organization. It is professional as well as courteous to speak at an appropriate volume, neither too loud too soft using the right vocabulary. Desks must be kept clean and neat at all times. It is advisable to avoid displaying fancy stationery items or other decorative pieces. This not only obstructs the work area but also lends a very unprofessional perception to customers.


Avoid eating at your desk. If you must eat at your desk, avoid eating foods with strong aromas, hot food, or those that require direct contract with fingers. Also ensure that the food is not placed directly in front of you but rather on the side. There’s nothing worse than an unexpected visitors to see a desk topped with food, dirty tissues and oil-tainted documents or enter an office that smells like a restaurant. This creates a bad impression and reduces professional’s credibility. Keep your cell phone on vibrate mode or set the tone to a low level as the ring can be disturbing not only to colleagues but also to a customer who might be in conversation with you on the telephone.

 It is impolite to barge into a colleague’s office and ask “Busy?” or begin talking without waiting for a response. Instead say, “I would like to tell you about the customer services project whenever you can make ten minutes for it today.” This shows consideration and respect for your colleague’s time and work. It is discourteous to peer at the computer screen of a colleague or browser any document on his or her desk. If a colleague is on the phone, it is polite to come back again in a few minutes or leave a note saying “need to talk” rather than hover around his or her desk or stand and wait for the conversation to finish. If you overhear a conversation, practices selective listening and do not chime in.

If a printer stalls or jams in the middle of your job, do take time to fix it or alert someone who can attend to it rather than just re-sending the job to another printer. If you use the last pins in a borrowed stapler, be sure to replenish it or notify the lender of the same. Always ask permission before using a colleague’s stationery is poor manners and annoying. Ensure you have your own supply. Sheared areas such as kitchens and washrooms must be considerately.

If supplies such as tissues, water or soap are low or running out, if the washroom is occupied, it is courteous to notify the attend immediately. Using a cellphone in the washroom is serious etiquette faux pas! Also, if the wash room is occupied, it is courteous to return again or seek other options, rather than stand wait for the door to open. Proper etiquette in the workplace helps eliminate distractions and creates a positive environment in which employees can achieve their full potential. Buy Carolynn Philips/The author is consultant and behavioral skills coach. She is also a member of the International Association of protocol Consultants® & Officers.

This article was released on “Times of Oman- THURSDAY- July 8-14, 2010