I am horrified by the stories my clients have confessed to me regarding their employees working in cubicles, like employees cutting their toenails, painting their fingernails, and discussing very intimate personal business on the telephone.
Cubicles are now very common in office settings.Many of us work in office cubicles or other open environments.An employee can spend 40 hours per week in a cubicle. However, studies show that most workers are not thrilled with the idea of working in a cube because of the lack of privacy and the increased noise.
Life in a cube can present challenges. One of the challenges is how coworkers with different personalities and working styles and from different cultures can work successfully in a cubicle environment. Some people are more extraverted and need to talk to others to get their energy.Others are more introverted and prefer to work all day with very little talking. They get their energy from within.
Cubicles offer more of a psychological than a physical barrier between employee workspaces.It is hard to keep noise, smells, and other disturbances from spilling over the partitions.But if people realize that they must minimize their “spill-over,” life in cubicles can be easier and the workplace can be very productive.
In cubicle environments, "common" courtesy is very important.A little bit of politeness goes a long way toward smoothing problems. Everybody should model good behavior and expect it from co-workers.Supervisors can play an important role in setting the tone, creating policies for healthy office culture, and, when necessary, negotiating conflicts between employees.
Here are some ways that you can exercise proper cubicle etiquette and make your work environment more conducive to getting work done.
PRIVACY
Conceptualize invisible walls and doors.Do not talk or holler over the top of your cubicle.
Never enter someone’s cubicle without permission. Do not barge in and begin talking. Behave as though cubicles have doors. Do not enter before you have eye contact “permission” from the occupant.
Try not to sneak up behind someone in a cube. Announce yourself at their doorway or lightly knock on the wall.
Post a sign or flag at your cube entrance to signal when you can be interrupted. Avoid making eye contact with people if you don’t want to be interrupted.
Don’t “prairie-dog” over the tops of cubes or peek in as you walk past each one.Keep your eyes straight ahead.
Don’t loiter outside someone’s cube while you wait for him or her to finish a phone call. Come back at another time.
Never read someone’s computer screen or comment on conversations you’ve overheard. Resist answering a question you overheard asked in the cube next to you!
Keep your hands off a cube dweller’s desk. Just because there’s no door doesn’t mean you can help yourself to their paper clips.
Kick others out gracefully.Let others know you have work to finish.
Respect quiet – think before interrupting someone who appears to be deep in thought
Don’t discuss confidential and personal information in your cubicle.General Rule:Would you want this information on the internet or the PM news?If not, don’t discuss it in your cubicle; find a more private space instead.
If you are having a break or lunch with someone else, do so in the break room, not in your cubicle.
Do your grooming in the rest room, i.e. do not trim your eyebrows, beard, nails or floss your teeth in your cube
In Blog #5 Lady Dianne will share some more tips on Cubicle Etiquette.Stay tuned.
Dianne Floyd Sutton is President of Sutton Enterprises, author, trainer, educator, facilitator, expert witness, coach and actor. She has twenty-five years of combined experience in Human Resource Development (HRD) and Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) training. And she has twenty years of business experience as Sutton Enterprises.
