It seems that work spaces are getting more and more cramped as the price per square foot goes up. So, as we get squashed closer together in our serviced office space or our commercial property we need to ensure that we act in ways appropriate to this proximity.
Many people work in small or cramped offices and of course the cubicle has become the norm for at least some office spaces in most businesses today. Given these facts, it is more important than ever to maintain good relations with your colleagues with good cubicle manners.
Rule number one is, don’t chime in to conversations you hear in other cubicles, it makes you seem nosy. Two, make the effort to step out and walk over to your neighbour’s cubicle rather than calling or just sticking your head over the partition. The third, try to minimize eating at your desk, especially foods with strong odours.
When you are putting up decorations and personal effects in your serviced office or cubicle, keep in mind who will be seeing them. This is not your dorm room, and you need to maintain a professional appearance. A couple of personal touches are fine, a photo, a diploma, a couple of mementos, or interesting conversation pieces are all appropriate. But, avoid decorations that are distracting or loud, even something like those silver ‘Newton’s balls’ can be very distracting as they click away in the background.
Roger Tullgren, in Sweden, managed to convince three psychologists that his compulsion to listen to music at work should be classified as a disability. He has now been given a dispensation to play music ‘really loudly’ at his new job as a part-time dishwasher in a restaurant.
However, not everyone is Roger Tullgren and colleagues at your serviced office will be keen to hear your latest discovery, so keep the volume non-existent by wearing headphones.
Finally and most importantly, stay at home if you are sick, other workers really don’t want your germs. You may feel you should be applauded for bravely soldiering into work when ill, but no-one else will feel the same.
A Kimberly-Clark report found 94 per cent of workers admitting they still turn up for work when experiencing cold and flu symptoms. Eighty-five per cent of these think about the risk of passing on their illness to colleagues but go in anyway. If you absolutely must appear, be considerate, use tissues and wash your hands frequently to reduce the spread of germs.
Previous Post
Open-Plan Offices Favoured, but at what Costs?
