Workplaces can differ in every sense. From dress codes to the informalities of how people interact with each other, the protocol of the accepted etiquette will vary both from industry to industry and also between companies involved in the same industry themselves.
For example, a factory environment may adopt a far less formal approach than, say, a law firm but probably the most important aspect to remember is that just because you work within a particular industry, you shouldn’t assume that what was acceptable within one company you’ve worked for previously will be just the same if you move to a similar role within another similar type of company.
Therefore, when you move to a new workplace, always err on the side of caution and use those first few days to casually observe your fellow colleagues and to try to establish what’s considered ‘reasonable’ behaviour and what isn’t. If you’re unsure about certain things such as if it’s acceptable to have your mobile phone on, for example, or the specifics of the dress code, ask a colleague. However, there are a number of workplace ‘dos and don’ts’ that are commonly accepted by most companies.
Often, it’s a simple matter of using your common sense and behaving in a manner that shows courtesy and respect for others but there are numerous things that you should obviously not get involved with or encourage. Here’s a list of some of the most commonly cited examples of behaviour that is often frowned upon and even not tolerated by most companies, regardless of type. Disregarding these, it can often, at best, make you unpopular or, at worst, might even get you the sack. Things you shouldn’t do at work include:
There are a number of things that you should do if you want to be seen as a valuable member of the team and to be considered a valued colleague. These can include:
These are just simple dos and don’ts which reflect general workplace etiquette in most workplaces and are often as much about using your own common sense as anything else. However, this entire website contains more specific articles which may be of more relevance to a particular situation you’re faced with at work in terms of what you should and shouldn’t be doing or saying.
For more articles like this, see WORK ETIQUETTE
