There are endless ground rules for etiquette in the office. But etiquette in the office bathroom is just as important, if not more. Check out a couple of do’s and don’ts for impeccable washroom etiquette.

DO -

Be Sanitary: No one wants to navigate around your mess. Throw away your trash, wipe up excess water on the countertops, and for heaven’s sake, no sprinkles on the seats!

Flush: Don’t you just loathe those people who leave little surprises for you in the toilet bowl? If this has happened to you then you know that to save someone else that trauma, please flush when you’re done!

Wash Your Hands: You know what's worse than seeing some stranger in a public bathroom leave without washing their hands? Seeing somebody you work with do the same. Now you get to spend the whole day wondering what they are touching with their filthy, germ-ridden hands, and hoping it's not on your desk, or worse, extended to give you a hand-shake. Moral of the story: wash those hands after you’re done.

DON’T -

Take Your Time: If people are waiting to use the washroom, don’t take your time admiring yourself in the mirror or cooing on the phone to your someone special. Do your thing and get on out of there.

Comb Your Hair: No one likes to go into the bathroom and get accosted by endless strands of someone’s runaway locks. If you absolutely must comb your hair, make sure you don’t leave behind strands of your DNA around the place.

Gossip: Washrooms are the last place to have gossip sessions about that new girl with the black nail polish or the guy that always sucks up to the boss. But not only are you inconveniencing the people waiting, you’re probably also running the risk of getting caught!

So the next time you step into your office washroom, remember to make it quick and keep it clean!

 

“Your manners are always under examination, and by committees little suspected, awarding or denying you very high prizes when you least think of it."
                                                                      - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Well, the least suspected committee may well turn out to be your next employer and the prize, your ideal job! You never know. So, if you happen to travel a lot, hobnob with clients and visit other offices as part of your work schedule, ensure that your manners are impeccable and your visiting etiquette, intact.

So, how good is your visitor etiquette? Evaluate yourself by going through these simple but effective rules.

	Be punctual and if you’re 5 minutes early, even better. This indicates that you respect other people’s time.
	Don't stroll into a place as if it’s your own.
	Be polite to everyone you meet irrespective of if it’s the receptionist or the CEO.
	If the office that you are visiting needs you to sign in, and take a visitor card, comply with the protocol. You could supply the receptionist with your visiting card.
	While waiting, don't try to chat up the receptionist, in case you’re feeling bored!
	While waiting in someone's office, don't touch anything on his/her desk or around his/her room. Similarly, his/her reading material is his/her own, and is not there for you to kill time with.
	Carry your own pens and note pads; it looks very unprofessional when you ask to borrow theirs.
	Get your work done and leave. This is not a social visit so don’t grab every opportunity to chitchat.
	On your way out, remember to thank the receptionist!

 

What is email etiquette? Well, here is a list of the top email etiquette rules you need to note.

1. Be concise and to the point.
Do not make an e-mail longer than it needs to be. Remember that reading an e-mail is harder than reading printed communications.

2. Answer all questions, and pre-empt further questions.
An email reply must answer all questions, and pre-empt further questions – If you do not answer all the questions in the original email, you will receive further e-mails regarding the unanswered questions, which will not only waste your time and your customer’s time but also cause considerable frustration.

3. Use proper spelling, grammar & punctuation.
This is not only important because improper spelling, grammar and punctuation give a bad impression of your company, it is also important for conveying the message properly. E-mails with no full stops or commas are difficult to read and can sometimes even change the meaning of the text.

4. Answer swiftly.
E-mails are sent as people wish to receive a quick response. Each e-mail should be replied to within at least 24 hours, and preferably within the same working day.

5. Do not attach unnecessary files.
By sending large attachments you can annoy others and even bring down their e-mail system. Wherever possible try to compress attachments.

6. Use proper structure & layout.
Since reading from a screen is more difficult than reading from paper, the structure and lay out is very important for e-mail messages. Use short paragraphs and blank lines between each paragraph. When making points, number them or mark each point as separate to keep the overview.

7. Do not overuse the high priority option.
If you overuse the high priority option, it will lose its function when you really need it.

8. Do not write in CAPITALS.
IF YOU WRITE IN CAPITALS IT SEEMS AS IF YOU ARE SHOUTING. This can be highly annoying and might trigger an unwanted response in the form of a flame mail. Therefore, try not to send any email text in capitals.

9. Read the email before you send it.
A lot of people don't bother to read an email before they send it out, as can be seen from the many spelling and grammar mistakes contained in emails. Apart from this, reading your email through the eyes of the recipient will help you send a more effective message and avoid misunderstandings and inappropriate comments.

10. Do not overuse Reply to All.
Only use Reply to All if you really need your message to be seen by each person who received the original message.

11. Do not use email to discuss confidential information.
Sending an email is like sending a postcard. If you don't want your email to be displayed on a bulletin board, don't send it. Moreover, never p make any libelous, sexist or racially discriminating comments in emails, even if they are meant to be a joke.

12. Use cc: field sparingly.
Try not to use the cc: field unless the recipient in the cc: field knows why they are receiving a copy of the message. Using the cc: field can be confusing since the recipients might not know who is supposed to act on the message.