Q: Most of my staff worked remotely during the pandemic. Since returning to the office, they’ve seemed to have forgotten the basic rules of professional e-communications and work etiquette. Any thoughts?
A: Since your staffers have become a bit rusty due to their extended stint as remote workers; it’s time to gather the troops in-person to review your expectations on how they need to communicate and conduct themselves now that they’re back in the office. Then, follow up in writing to ensure everyone got the message.
Although the rules are essentially the same, there’ve been a few shifts since the pandemic haze seems to have finally lifted. What’s clear is that the social distancing experienced during the last few years did not quash anyone’s ability to connect and texting reigned supreme and continues to outweigh the array of communication options. However, many abuse the privilege. That said, e-communication is just one of the many transgressions of those returning to the office.
Here are some suggested tips to refresh your employees’ memory that will hopefully ensure a more professional and respectful environment for their colleagues and manager moving forward:
Don’t ‘reply all’ email or text by accident. Think before pushing send as most responses should go to the original sender or perhaps a few others but not the whole company.
Silence notifications. It can get irritating very quickly if your phone is constantly pinging with text messages, emails, etc. Avoid distracting your colleagues by silencing notifications during workdays.
Avoid loud distractions. If you’re listening to music or a podcast—especially in an open-plan office—use headphones. If you need to have a conversation with a colleague that could be distracting to others, take it to the break room or a conference room.
Don’t show up late. Those who make showing up late a habit, shouldn’t make the mistake of thinking people (or your boss) won’t notice. Being on time is being early. If something does come up and being late is unavoidable, shoot the boss or team a message so they know when to expect you.
Knock before entering. Or, announce yourself before entering a colleague’s space. This goes for offices, conference rooms, cubicles as well as open office layouts.
Respect social distancing. People are still masking up. Be courteous and respect their decision. Stay home when you’re sick. Protect your colleagues by staying home until you feel better.
Dress professionally. Dress codes vary between industries. Even if casual is the norm in the office, it’s still important to look professional. This means clean, well-groomed and, most likely, not wearing yoga pants and flip-flops.
Bottom line. Office etiquette requires being respectful, kind and courteous of others. You would think this would be just plain common sense. However, as the great English poet Alexander Pope said: “Common sense is not so common.”
Joan Lee Berkman is a marketing and public relations consultant. if you have a question for Joan, send it to business@townandstyle.com
