Office Etiquette

So, a friend forwarded these 'rules' to me. Keep in mind, someone he knows actually received these from the 'higher-ups' in the organization where he or she works. Wonder if I should send to all the employees in my office? P.S. I love the last one!

Please be mindful when choosing your lunch for the day since we may have clients or guests in the office and we don't want to turn our fellow employees off either…let's lose the stinky fish, burnt popcorn, sauerkraut, etc. from our work menus. Not only is this in "poor taste" it sends the wrong message to clients and guests. We don't want to be remembered as the agency that smelled like Wholey's…we want to be remembered for our great work. Listed below are some general rules for cube dweller to remain productive and neighborly:

PRIVACY
· Never enter someone's cubicle without permission. Behave as though cubicles have doors. Do not enter before you have eye contact "permission" from the occupant.
· Try not to sneak up behind someone in a cube. Announce yourself at their doorway or lightly knock on the wall.
· Post a sign or flag at your cube entrance to signal when you can be interrupted. Avoid making eye contact with people if you don't want to be interrupted.
· Don't "prairie-dog" over the tops of cubes or peek in as you walk past each one.
· Don't loiter outside someone's cube while you wait for him or her to finish a phone call. Come back at another time.
· Never read someone's computer screen or comment on conversations you've overheard. Resist answering a question you overheard asked in the cube next to you!
· Keep your hands off a cube dweller's desk. Just because there's no door doesn't mean you can help yourself to their paper clips.

PHONES
· Try to pick up your phone after one or two rings. Set the ringer volume at a low level.
· Limit the use of speakerphones. If you must use one, keep the volume as low as possible. Use a meeting room for conference calls.
· Watch your volume when talking on the phone. A headset can help keep your voice low.
· When you leave your cubicle, turn your phone ringer off and let it go to voicemail or forward your phone number to your new location.
· Never leave your cell phone behind in your cube without first turning it off or to vibrate.
· With personal or sensitive calls, be aware that your neighbors can hear your end of the conversation.

TALKING
· Use your "library voice".
· Don't talk through cube walls or congregate outside someone's cube. For impromptu meetings, go to a conference room or break room.
· Don't bring clients to your cube to meet with them. Go to an office or conference room.
· Don't yell across the "cube farm". Get up and move to the other person's location.

GENERAL NOISE
· Use email or instant messaging to communicate silently with your coworkers.
· Play radios at low volumes or use a headset.
· Set your PC volume to a low level and turn off screensaver sound effects.
· Set pagers to vibrate.
· Work out an arrangement with your neighbors to take lunch breaks at different times. This will give each of you some quiet time in your cube.
· Eat quietly. Avoid gum-popping, humming, slurping and pen tapping.

SMELLS
· A good rule of thumb is to never eat hot food at your desk. Food odors can bother your hungry or nauseous neighbors.
· Perfume and cologne should be avoided in a cubicle arrangement. Your neighbors may have allergies.
· Keep an air freshener handy.
· Keep your shoes on!