Basic rules for getting along in the workplace

Shared spaces are increasingly becoming the norm at work. Whether it is a small firm trying to get off the ground from a small leased flat or a conglomerate that contends better results will be achieved by an open floor plan, at some point in our careers, we will have to work in close physical proximity with other co-workers. And while we are guilty of an etiquette faux pas, you do not want to be the co-worker who is avoided or discussed over the water cooler by everyone at the office.

Meals and snacks

A meal at your desk may be the norm every once in a while, even though it makes for an unhealthy habit. What your co-workers hate though is the pungent odour or lingering scents of certain foods.

Similarly, if you’re eating a particularly flaky pastry, please clean up the crumbs after you’re done, especially if you’re using public surfaces.

In some offices, the microwave is a potential health hazard with how much stuff has been left over from past use. Don’t be the person who spills tea and waits for the next person to clean it up.

Responsible electronic use

The printer/scanner/copier can be one of the most depressing places to visit. More often than not, the person right before you used up all the paper in the tray, left the machine with a paper jam or departed in the middle of printing a 100 page document.

While in most organisations the IT staff are the most in demand people and the hardest to get hold of, if you do break the copier, try to get it fixed before the person after you tears their hair out. It’s all part of good neighbourliness.

Phone calls and music

There’s always someone who breaks this one and forces everyone in the office to listen to them bickering, gossiping with their family over the phone or to their personalised play-list. That first few hours of the afternoon that are downtime for you and that you take to unwind with some jazz could be when your co-worker is really getting into his or her groove with work.

Maybe you can filter out noise with music but the person next to you just gets irritated by your music. Take phone calls discreetly and if you need to, use earphones to listen to your music or radio.

Sick days

Showing up to work with a head full of flu and a nose full of sniffles is not brave; it is counter-productive when you spread germs and disease to all your co-workers. Stay home, recover and come back to work in good form to put in a full day’s work.

TIPS

- Stay home whenever you have a contagious illness and avoid the office until you are over the worst of it.

- Keep noise from your audio devices and phone calls to a bare minimum. Not everyone can work around noise without getting irritated.