Modern Office Etiquette

The days that you see on Mad Men are a thing of the past. Today's workers must respect their co-workers, clients, and anyone else who steps foot in the office. Some companies post a list of office etiquette rules and regulations, but many rules are simply passed informally from one employee to the next. Knowing how to behave in an office is one of the top ways to keep your job.

According to Richie Frieman, some of the top office etiquette rules relate to a worker's cubicle. Workers use their cubicles as offices, and you should respect the space in the same way that you would a supervisor's closed office door. This means always knocking before you enter, not sitting on someone's desk, respecting any property the person has inside, and generally treating the cubicle like the person's home. The same rules apply to individual offices.

During an average day, administrative workers send dozens of emails to clients and others in the business. Because more and more people are resorting to text speak, it's important to remain professional when sending and responding to electronic mail. Text speak refers to people who send emails in the same way that they would a text message. Avoid using lowercase letters when you need uppercase letters, using numbers in place of letters, and using informal patterns of speech. While office etiquette rules of this type aren't necessarily spoken, your coworkers might give a silent sigh of relief.

Working in an administrative position means that you work around a number of different people, and workplace etiquette might vary depending on who is in front of you. While some coworkers appreciate a good joke, your supervisor might prefer that you focus on your daily tasks. Communication is an important part of your job, and office etiquette rules often apply to communication. This means responding to emails and phone calls in a timely manner, informing a supervisor if you cannot meet your goals, and respecting the confidentiality of your coworkers. You shouldn't share information that you learn about one coworker with another, and you shouldn't spread office gossip. Many workplaces now have office etiquette rules in place regarding office gossip.

Administrative workers need to walk a thin line between being part of the group and meeting the needs of supervisors. Workplace etiquette dictates that you respect the privacy of your coworkers and behave   professionally at all times. Working in an administrative position also requires working with clients and customers, and you need to respect those clients when talking to them on the phone and responding to emails. Whether or not your office has a written list of office etiquette rules, you still need to follow these rules.

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