Why You Should Avoid These 4 Cubicle Blunders

Why You Should Avoid These 4 Cubicle BlundersWhy You Should Avoid These 4 Cubicle BlundersTodays workplace is so prone to etiquette blunders that Miss Manners herself has tackled the topic. When it comes to cubicle etiquette, most people could use a refresher curse on what to avoid when working in close quarters. What are some of the biggest office faux pas? Weve listed the top four1. LOL If youre having a slow day, you could be laughing out loud at YouTube videos, Buzzfeed posts, or posts on your Facebook newsfeed. While a positive attitude can foster productivity, the sound of giggling, videos or music can become disruptive. Tell your cube mates to let you know if your ruckus is getting out of hand. You may find that the best thing to do is head to the break room or save the funny stuff for after work. Speaking of indoor voices, many people may not realize how loudly they talk on the phone either. Dont be that coworker, the one who unknowingly shares TMI each time he gets on his ce ll. Since your phone voice may carry further than you think, make it a habit to take your phone calls in a private place.2. Beep Boop Does your cubicle sound like the Starship Enterprise on red alert or R2-D2 beeping and whistling at C-3PO? Chat notifications beep. Recorded messages and dial tones issue forth from your speakerphone. Silence those gadgets so your cubicle mates can concentrate on their work.Download our Salary Guide to get in-depth salary information for your position, as well as insights into current hiring and compensation trends.3. Did you see? Sometimes people take crowdsourcing too far when they gather at cubicles to chat during work hours. A little small talk is great for building camaraderie, but cubicle etiquette requires that loud or long conversations should be held elsewhere. If youre bothered by someone elses conversation, politely let coworkers know their review of last nights episode of The Walking Dead is distracting (not to mention full of spoilers). S uggest a private office or space that would make a better place to converse.4. Dont comment. Remember that certain discussions are better suited for personal time than work time. In general, politics and religion are two topics that most people agree shouldnt be discussed at work. This also applies to anything else thats controversial and might make your coworkers uncomfortable. If you and a colleague love debating politics, enjoy those debates away from the office. Its cubicle etiquette, after all.Youre not alone if you made a blunder at the office. Check out our OfficeTeam survey of senior managers who were asked to recount their most embarrassing moments at work25 of the fruchtwein Embarrassing Work Stories from Robert HalfThis post has been updated to reflect more current information.