Workplace Etiquette

Professional Development

Camille S. BrittonJanuary 2008

Building Rapport or a Blabber-Mouth

The workplace is a social and work environment.

Walk the Line.

People spend more time at the office with co-workers and some employees have trouble drawing the line between business and friendship.

However, you must remember while you can be friendly and develop a good rapport, business is business and friendship is friendship.

Most employees do not realize that what they say has as much impact on their professional images as what they wear.

People who say too much, about themselves or others, can be seen as incompetent, unproductive and unworthy of professional development. – Susan Solovic, co-founder and CEO of SBTV.com, and author of three books, including "Reinvent Your Career: Attain the Success You Desire and Deserve.

13 Things Not to Share With Your Co-workers

Salary Information

What you earn is between you and Human Resources.

Disclosure indicates you aren't capable of keeping a confidence.

Medical History

Nobody really cares about your aches and pains, your latest operation, your infertility woes or the contents of your medicine cabinet.

To your employer, your constant medical issues make you seem like an expensive, high-risk employee.

Paula: Hey Joe, I was in the computer lab and I overheard Mr. Dan talking with Phil about his constant tardiness.

Joe: Uh-huh…Paula: And Phil told Mr. Dan some lame

excuse about commute issues. I don’t believe him. He just needs to get up earlier.

Joe: Yeah, really invest in an alarm. I mean I live far too, but I get here before time.

Gossip

Whomever you're gossiping with will undoubtedly tell others what you said.

If a co-worker is gossiping with you, most likely he or she will gossip about you.

Paula: Hey Joe, I was in the computer lab and I overheard Mr. Dan talking with Phil about his constant tardiness.

Joe: You know you really shouldn't be ease dropping.

Paula: I know but listen, Phil told Mr. Dan some lame excuse about commute issues. I don’t believe him. He just needs to get up earlier.

Joe: Hey, did you get that email TechMission about our meeting?

Work Complaints

Constant complaints about your workload, stress levels or the company will quickly make you the kind of person who never gets invited to lunch. If you don't agree with company policies and procedures, address it through official means or move on.

Cost of Purchases

The spirit of keeping up with the Joneses is alive and well in the workplace, but you don't want others speculating on the lifestyle you're living -- or if you're living beyond your salary bracket.

Paula: Tell me how can Sara afford a new car on our salary?

John: I don’t know, maybe she isn’t on our salary.

 Intimate Details

Don't share intimate details about your personal life. Co-workers can and will use the information against you.

Politics or Religion

People have strong, passionate views on both topics.

You may alienate a co-worker or be viewed negatively in a way that could impact your career.

Paula: I don’t care what you say, religion is an institution that seeks to bind its blind followers with scares of heaven or hell!

Gail: That’s not true, I’m a Christian and I believe in heaven and hell…

Paula: Like I said, “Blind Followers”!

Lifestyle Changes

Breakups, divorces and baby-making plans should be shared only if there is a need to know. Otherwise, others will speak for your capabilities, desires and limitations on availability, whether there is any truth to their assumptions or not.

 Blogs/Social Networking Profile

What you say in a social networking community or in your personal blog may be even more damaging than what you say in person. Comments online can be seen by multiple eyes. An outburst of anger when you are having a bad day … can blow up in your face.

Facebook ProfileCamille is “pissed at the world and

everyone living it!”

Camille is “trying to stay awake because she partied tough last night lol”

 Negative Views of Colleagues

If you don't agree with a co-worker's lifestyle, wardrobe or professional abilities, confront that person privately or keep it to yourself. The workplace is not the venue for controversy.

If you are a supervisor very important to confront in private!

Hangovers and Wild Weekends

It's perfectly fine to have fun during the weekend, but don't talk about your wild adventures on Monday. That information can make you look unprofessional and unreliable.

Personal Problems and Relationships

Failed marriages and volatile romances spell instability to an employer. Office romances lead to gossip and broken hearts, so it's best to steer clear. "The safest way to play is to follow the rule, ‘Never get your honey where you get your money.'

Racially Charged Comments

You can assume your co-worker wouldn't be offended or would think something is funny, but you might be wrong. Never take that risk. Furthermore, even if you know for certain your colleague wouldn't mind your comment, don't talk about it at work. Others can easily overhear.

DISCLAIMER

Quotes written were comments heard or said to me or in reference about me within my work

experiences

Comments stated with a Smile:Paula: You people really dress well…Mr. Dan: Be careful “strange fruit” still

exist in the South.Phil: What do Jews and pizza’s have in

common...Joe: Women are good for 2 things…Sara: Men can only think with one thing…Jane: Ew, are you going to eat that!

“Other cultures are not a failed attempt at yours”

University of Massachusetts Amherst Poster

ResourceRachel Zupek, CareerBuilder.ca Writer

http://www.careerbuilder.ca/CA/JobSeeker/CareerAdvice/ViewArticle