Manners Matter: Managers, Employees Sound Off About Workplace Etiquette
- Bosses say being late to meetings is the biggest etiquette breach; employees say it's office gossip
- 65 percent of managers, 46 percent of workers think being courteous can accelerate career advancement
- 61 percent of leaders feel people become more courteous as they climb the corporate ladder; 48 percent of employees say civility declines
MENLO PARK, Calif., May 30, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- A little common courtesy goes a long way at the office. Senior managers surveyed recently by staffing firm Accountemps said the most common breaches of business etiquette committed by staff and coworkers include running late to or missing meetings (34 percent), not responding to calls or emails in a timely manner (26 percent) and gossiping about others in the office (23 percent).
A corresponding survey of workers found slightly different results, with respondents citing talking about colleagues as the most common offense (24 percent), followed by being distracted during meetings (18 percent) and not responding to work communication in a timely fashion (17 percent).
View a slideshow to learn more about managers' and employees' opinions on workplace etiquette and courtesy.
"It goes without saying that you should show respect toward your colleagues, yet etiquette blunders happen every day," said Michael Steinitz, executive director of Accountemps. "Showing up on time for meetings and paying attention when you're there demonstrates that you value the time and efforts of others. Just being polite goes a long way toward creating a better work environment."
The findings from our research indicate being courteous to coworkers impacts career success; 65 percent of managers and 46 percent of workers say it can accelerate advancement. However, the respondent groups did not see eye to eye when it comes to courtesy and moving up the corporate ladder. Sixty-one percent of leaders said professionals become more courteous as they advance, but a near majority of employees (48 percent) disagreed and said politeness declines.
Steinitz added, "How you conduct yourself in the office and treat others can be just as important to your career as your work performance. Remember to think about how others may interpret your actions, and always aim to be considerate toward your colleagues."
Additional advice on how to improve office etiquette can be found on the Robert Half blog.
About the Research
Accountemps worked with independent research firms to survey two populations: professionals and managers. Survey results are based on responses from more than 1,000 U.S. workers 18 years of age or older and employed in office environments and more than 300 senior managers at U.S. companies with 20 or more employees.
About Accountemps
Accountemps, a Robert Half company, is the world's first and largest specialized staffing service for temporary accounting, finance and bookkeeping professionals. Robert Half has more than 300 locations worldwide. More resources, including job search services and the company's blog, can be found at roberthalf.com/accountemps.
SOURCE Accountemps
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