Ever wondered what happens in workplaces every day? People from diverse backgrounds and attitudes converge every day as a group to work for the betterment of an organisation, this means the workplace can be stressful when employees do not follow basic office etiquette. Work etiquette is very important because bad manners at work can negatively affect employee morale and productivity. There is need for employees to be happy to induce a productive work environment. To ensure this, every worker, not just management, has to act as a role model by demonstrating good manners. Office etiquette is not difficult to achieve but difficult to maintain. Once a person adopts these courteous manners, he or she would find it easier to relate with co-workers. Etiquette is about the same in virtually every organisation, it is a rule that applies to all. Life Extra sought the opinion of a cross section of people on what they think of office etiquette. Their responses are diverse and interesting. Safiya Adebayo, a civil servant says: “The major thing one should do is to give a good impression of one’s self the first day you report for duty. Another significant point is to always be honest and straight-forward in whatever one does. Honesty is central to happiness and also says a lot about a person. If a person is honest, that person gets to earn trust from co-workers and even bosses.” Patience Isaku, a secretary opines that: “For one to be considered as someone who has work etiquette that person must therefore treat his or her co-workers, cleaners, security guards and maintenance people, with respect and courtesy. They say respect is reciprocal, in order to earn respect you have to respect yourself first and others as well. As an educated person, learn to show gestures and always show appreciation for the slightest courtesies extended to you. It is undoubtedly amazing when one embraces gestures like ‘thank you,’‘please, you’re welcome’ and ‘sorry’ as part of everyday courtesies.” For Princess Atuanya, a bank manager: “One work etiquette that annoys meif breached, is when an employeecomes late towork or for a meeting. The most annoying part is when you have an appointment and you don’t meet up with it, it makes you less professional. Personally, I think it is even worse for a worker not to attend the meeting at all, especially without a genuine reason for not showing up. Another thing a worker should avoid as much as he or she can is chewing gum at work. It doesn’t make you any cooler or better than other people.” Ifunanya Edward, a marketer, opines that: “Being clean is compulsory for me because I meet people everyday and how I dress determines the way I will be addressed. If you are clean and tidy, people will treat you with so much respect. You also look smart when you are dress neatly.” Chukudi Amanfor, an engineer with a private firm states that: “In a working environment, one has to co-ordinate his or herself because it is an official terrain that requires the best of behaviors. It is expected that you dress formally to work, relate well with other colleagues, and respect yourself, co-workers and bosses.”Amanfor adds it was important for one to be as efficient as possible by doing one’s job properly and in due time: “Another etiquette required in the workplace is the ability to sieve personal problems from work areas and time.” Precious Joseph, a teacher, says: “Your ability to be formal at work encompasses all the etiquette of a workplace. Where I teach, it is expected I get to work before the students, get my materials ready, relate well with other teachers and keep a good but profession relationship with the students.” Joseph adds that shehas to dress well and look good as well: “More so, dressing neatly, smartly and decently to work is a must at my workplace because as a teacher you are seen as a form of moral upbringing to the students and not only on academic matters.” Chidinma Okoye, a hotel receptionist explains that: “My job expects as part of its etiquette that I relate well with every customer because I am seen as the book-cover of the hotel. It is also expected that I always look cheerful and be of moral standard by not being informal to customers but to be formal and strictly professional. One importance of these work standards and etiquette is that it creates formal scenery to the work place and makes you realise that the workplace is a place to work as the name connotes.” Jasper Anson, in an article titled ‘Is your workplace etiquette sabotaging your career?’notes that: “Profanity, lack of personal space, unnecessary cellular chats, and poor eating habits top our list of behavioral blunders. Bad behavior isn’t good anywhere, but it’s worse at work where people witness it on a regular basis. Don’t swear to make a point. It’ll take away your credibility and make you look stupid. In addition to profanity, standing too close to a co-worker or being physical with them is also unwise. Your work environment isn’t a place for intimacy. “An office favours speech over intimacy, but that shouldn’t include your cellphone. A sudden call at a meeting or lunch can be irritating, especially if you’re talking loudly. Volume and rudeness are also bad when you’re eating. Being loud and talking with your mouth full takes attention away from the conversation and puts any business talk on shaky ground.”
Posted on: Sun, 23 Nov 2014 06:18:03 +0000
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