Every office has a set of rules that we, as employees, have to follow (assuming you value your job). However, there are also a few unwritten rules that no one tells us about. These mostly involve our co-workers, social rules that we aren’t told because it’s generally assumed we will just use common sense and know them automatically. So what are these unwritten rules? We’re going to talk about 5 of them below.
1. Always return borrowed office supplies. Need a pen? No problem, your neighbouring co-worker has your back. Hole punch broken? That’s fine, the guy across from you doesn’t need his right now. Borrowing office supplies is something you will probably have to do multiple times at work. Sometimes your own supplies go missing or break and everyone understands that. Just don’t become that person who never returns that pen or hole punch when you borrow it. Firstly, if you become that person, eventually no one will lend you anything. This means you’ll eventually find yourself without those office supplies when you really need them. Secondly, people really hate things like this and you don’t want to give people a reason not to like you.
2. Don’t talk to people on the phone unless invited. This might sound really obvious but it can be easy to miss the fact that someone is on the phone especially if they’re using a headset, so be aware of your surroundings before you approach a co-worker at their desk. It can be very annoying having someone try to talk to you when you’re trying to focus on talking to a customer. Of course, if the co-worker is transferring a call or asks you a question when the customer is on hold, then that’s okay.
3. Don’t open windows without checking with those around you. If you don’t have air-con in your office it can get really stuffy, especially if you work in a call centre or crowded space. It can be really tempting to pop open a window near you but always check with those close by first, so as to avoid causing discomfort to your co-workers. Usually people will be too polite to say no but it’s nice to ask anyway. Additionally, don’t close windows without asking either. If lots of people want the window open and you don’t, maybe you should consider wearing a jumper to avoid arguing with co-workers.
4. Always listen carefully. This obviously applies when your manager is talking to you but it’s just as valid when your co-workers are talking to you, too. If you aren’t listening properly, for example, when a co-worker asks you do to something for them, you could end up not only embarrassing yourself but alienating the person you work with. It’s important to make sure that you don’t offend the people you work with since you might need them to help you later.
5. Don’t leave a mess. Someone always has to clean up the mess in an office. Whether it’s an empty milk carton left in the fridge, a dirty bowl or mug left on the side instead of in the dishwasher or wrappers and packets left on your desk. People hate cleaning up other people’s messes. Don’t leave things lying around. Make it a routine that when the day ends, you clean up anything on your desk that shouldn’t be there, put your washing up in the dishwasher and throw out your empty food containers. It’s such a simple and easy thing to do that can lead to a lot of work if everyone leaves it for one person. Leaving a mess is impolite, so don’t do it.
These are just a few of the ‘unwritten rules’ of the office workplace. Of course, your office workplace might differ, or there might be other unwritten rules that you’ll need to learn through experience at work. Mostly, these rules all concern being polite and sensitive to those around you at work. You might not like it but other people there are just as stressed and working just as hard as you are. So make sure you’re considerate of them the next time you borrow a pen. As always, good luck!
