Something for the weekend: If you have ever got annoyed at something that has happened, or someone’s behaviour in a workplace, you are not the only one, as 72% of UK workers think office etiquette has declined in the last three years. That’s a rather high percentage!
Online printer Instantprint’s study of 2,000 UK office workers has revealed that loud phone and video calls are the UK’s most hated workplace behaviour, cited by 58% of respondents.
The other worst office habits were leaving shared spaces in a mess, including kitchens and meeting rooms (52%), passive aggressive emails and messages (47%), turning up late to meetings (41%), and ignoring shared office rules, such as quiet zones or desk booking systems (38%).
Meanwhile, the top five best office habits were respecting noise levels and using headphones (64%), keeping shared spaces clean and organised (59%), clear and polite communication (55%), being punctual and prepared for meetings (49%), and showing basic courtesy, such as saying thank you or acknowledging messages (46%). Do you agree with these? We do!
The findings also highlighted that 61% of employees said repeated exposure to bad office habits makes them feel less motivated, while 44% found it negatively impacts how professional they perceive their colleagues to be.
Furthermore, 53% said they would feel more engaged if office behaviour was discussed more clearly, while 48% believe it would improve team relationships.
Jon Constatine-Smith, head of Instantprint, said: “Office tension rarely comes from one big blow up. It is usually driven by small behaviours that happen day after day and slowly chip away at morale. What this research shows is that being mindful of how you work around others, whether that is noise, cleanliness or communication, can make a noticeable difference to how connected and productive teams feel.”
Sounds like the best way to improve any feelings of discontent in the workplace is to be clear on what is and isn’t acceptable behaviour.
