Working with Colleagues

Some guidance for working with colleagues:

• The office is a shared space, where people are forced to be in proximity, therefore be accommodating and consider the impact of your actions on others.
• Remember that a person's office (or cubicle) is personal space - even though it's the workplace, people feel a sense of ownership of their workstations and have an expectation of privacy and mutual respect
• Insofar as your own office is concerned, don't make it "too" personal or too casual. Keep it clean and professional.
• Be aware of workplace habits that may be irritating to others. Noise can be an issue (holding a meeting or loud conversation in your office). Even if you are discreet, you're not inaudible to others, so be prudent of what you discuss with others in your office, even (or especially) on the phone.
• Be aware of "olfactory offenders" - Anything that creates a scent, even a pleasant one, should be avoided: perfumes, air fresheners, etc. Also, avoid eating lunch at your desk or leaving smelly garbage in your office trash can.
• Be considerate when using "public" spaces: leave meeting rooms, break rooms, the supply cabinet, and other common spaces tidy.

Contents