Cubicles

Cubicles

Ever wondered if there is such a thing as official etiquette for cubicles? There certainly is. Here are a few guidelines that ought to be followed at your office, and if they’re not, you might want to address this with your manager-or with your employees and peers, if you are a supervisor yourself.

Number one: keep voices down within the cubicles. This should go without saying in the workplace. Some may think that working in cubicles means you have complete sound barriers and thus enough isolation to be as loud as you like, but that is simply not the case.

Sound can in fact “bleed” over from one cube to the next, and this can be very disruptive-not only to your coworker but also to clients. Remember: they are the ones paying the bills.

Number two: Don’t take other people’s supplies from their cubicles without asking first. Again, this is common courtesy. Remember that if you take something that is not yours without asking-yes, even at work (especially at work!)-you are in fact stealing. This is still wrong and unethical, it’s against company policy, and you got it-it’s still against the law.

No one will mind if you “steal” a paperclip or something of little monetary value from their cubicles, but it’s still courteous to simply ask. If you’re the last one out of the office that day, leave a note that you borrowed a small item such as this, or tell the coworker the next morning.

Number three: Do not use another coworker’s phone without asking. Sure, the phone line belongs to the same company you work for, but it’s not your desk. Besides, if he or she is sick you may catch their cold without realizing it. But let’s face it, you’re going to look really stupid if the person who occupies it-or worse, the boss-catches you sitting at others’ cubicles.

By Gabriel J. Adams

Article Source: ezinearticles.com