Monday, November 28, 2011

Office Courtesy Blunders


A California staffing company said its survey of office workers found breaches of etiquette including lunch theft and sneezing into the boss’ coffee. Robert Half International said its survey found workers had witnessed breaches of workplace etiquette including a worker throwing papers into the air while collaborating on a project and shouting “forget this.” The company said the survey was conducted to coincide with the release of its video series “Don’t Let This Happen to You,” which offers advice on avoiding common breaches of workplace etiquette. Robert Half asked workers to recount the worst or wackiest etiquette blunders they’ve witnessed or heard about in the workplace. Here are some of the more memorable anecdotes:

  • “A coworker fell asleep at her desk and another team member took a picture of her snoozing and sent it to the boss.”
  • “Someone was stealing other people’s lunches from the lounge area.”
  • “A colleague purposely sneezed into the boss’s coffee cup.”
  • “A coworker had a drink at lunch and returned to work wasted.”
  • “After asking me a question, a coworker talked excessively for 30 minutes without letting me get in one word.”
  • “Someone didn’t get what he wanted and loudly hung up on a conference call.”
  • “I once heard an employee screaming at a customer.”
  • “Someone thought he put a customer on hold and then used inappropriate language within earshot.”
  • “Employees were walking around the office barefoot.”
  • “A person took a cell phone into the restroom while still talking.”