Posted on Mon, Apr 05, 2010
By Jeremy Willinger
If you are lucky enough to have a job, there are several paramount rules of business etiquette that, when followed, will go a long way toward helping you stay employed.
While it is always nice to work with attractive, personable people, the office should not be considered a dating pool. Dating a co-worker, especially one who is your superior, is as ill-advised as walking into the office drunk. Socializing is one thing, but an amorous relationship only leads to gossip and workplace conflicts.
Gossip—about fellow workers or anyone—is definitely discouraged. Proper workplace etiquette demands that any personal information, about oneself or others, be kept to oneself. Passing on confidential data, or just spreading rumors (whether overtly or by innuendo), only serves to brand the person divulging the “facts” as untrustworthy, and it could also be illegal.
With many jobs, there will be times when drinking is a part of the workplace environment (holiday parties, trade shows, workplace dinners, and the like). This is not college, and the object is not to imbibe as much free booze as your stomach can hold—know your limits and never exceed them. Remember, proper office conduct extends beyond the walls of the office as well.
Professional behavior is also important when owning up to a mistake and all of us will make them from time to time. Never lie or cover up an error! Promptly taking the blame, and making a sincere effort never to repeat that mistake, is the best way to avoid any potential problems. Conversely, if you have a great idea for the company, good workplace etiquette demands that you include your boss. By including your superior, you are showing deference and respect for their position.
These are just a few of the more fundamental tips that will hasten upward mobility and professional success.