Workplace decorum: Crabby's Daily Tip

There are certain civilized ways of treating each other that years of evolution have encouraged us to realize. Still, some of us seem to have forgotten our manners. I've written an entire column about etiquette in the workplace covering several mores and protocols when at work. I'm highlighting two of them today.

• Gossip: Remember what you learned in junior high
  
  Get folks together, and gossip will happen. Perhaps it's just part of our nature, or perhaps, for some folks, it makes them feel better about themselves to talk smack about other folks. If you're going to talk about someone, you need to realize that the chances of your words getting back to that person are pretty good, and gossip often finds a way to come back to bite you at a most inopportune time. Then again, as human beings, I believe that we do have free will and can make the choice not to be sneaky and mean at work. So, let me make this short and sweet, my children: Don't gossip. It makes everyone — especially you — look bad.

• Take only pictures, steal only time, leave only footprints
  
  

  Yes, you can steal time, and turns out you can steal a lot of things; stealing has a broad definition. To set the record straight, the following acts are considered stealing in the workplace:

  • Parking in the accessible parking space.
  • Taking home a ream of paper, or a couple of those new chairs from the lobby.
  • Taking credit for work done by others.

  You get the idea. If it feels wrong, it probably is. If it feels right with a sneaky, I'm-getting-away-with-it feel to it, it's also probably wrong.

For more in-depth information about what I'm getting at here, and to read about some advice regarding workplace decorum, please head over to the Office site and read Crabby's etiquette guide for working ladies and gentlemen.

— Crabby