WORKPLACE ETIQUETTE MODULE 24 CREDIT 1 HOUR REMINDER

WORKPLACE ETIQUETTE MODULE 24 CREDIT: 1 HOUR

REMINDER Daily Job Search Review • Contact your Job Developer daily to submit your job search records and verifications in order to receive credit. • If you have any questions or concerns regarding your job search, please contact your Job Developer immediately. 2

OVERVIEW • What is Workplace Etiquette? • Manners Still Matter • Worksheet: Workplace Scenarios • Module Summary • Module Quiz 3 Good morning! Welcome back to the EZONE Workshop. Today we will begin by discussing what workplace etiquette is and how it can affect your professionalism in the workplace. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask. Simply contact your EZONE Facilitator.

WHAT IS WORKPLACE ETIQUETTE? • Workplace etiquette refers to the proper behavior in a working environment where setting a professional tone can ensure a positive and successful experience. 4 • Whether you are new to the workforce or have many years of professional experience, how you present yourself to others in the workplace matters.

Good manners in the workplace have a direct impact on how others perceive you and can make a big difference to your career advancement opportunities. WORKPLACE ETIQUETTE: MANNERS STILL MATTER 5 In order to build healthy relationships with your coworkers and supervisors, review the following list of DO's and DON'Ts to maintain an enjoyable working environment and to strengthen your image as a true professional.

MANNERS STILL MATTER: DO’S & DON’TS DO ARRIVE EARLY. • There is some common advice often given to new workers: You want to be in the office before your supervisor, and stay until after he or she leaves. You will be remembered for answering your phone at 8: 01 a. m. in a world where tardiness is common (especially in major cities, where traffic can cause all kinds of headaches). DO NOT BRING YOUR EMOTIONS INTO THE OFFICE. • It is best to leave your personal emotions at the door when you get to work. If you truly cannot focus on your work because something has happened, it is probably a better idea to take some personal time to process your emotions. 6

MANNERS STILL MATTER: DO’S & DON’TS DO BE FLEXIBLE. • Sometimes, you are going to be tasked with a project that requires you to be flexible. You might be asked to work earlier or later than usual; you might be asked to perform duties or tasks that you do not necessarily want to perform, or that you were not hired to do. There may come a day when you are asked to work a holiday—either to cover someone else’s shift or to lead a project through to completion. • While it is never fun to work a holiday, a weekend, or to do “someone else’s job, ” being willing to roll with the punches demonstrates that you value the company and take your role seriously. DO NOT HAVE A PERSONAL CONVERSATION IN YOUR WORKSPACE. • If you must have a private or personal phone conversation when you are at work, try not to have the conversation in your workspace where others can hear you. Many workplaces have conference rooms that you can use for phone calls; otherwise, it might be a good idea to step outside. 7 • Having a personal conversation in your workspace can be distracting to the co-workers near you, and may open you up to gossip about being someone who “can’t leave their personal life at home”—which is not good for your professional image.

MANNERS STILL MATTER: DO’S & DON’TS DO BE WILLING TO HELP OUT A CO-WORKER. • If one of your co-workers asks you for help in completing a task, you should generally say yes —as long as you feel that you can realistically help them while also hitting your own deadlines. This is an opportunity to stand out and demonstrate your own knowledge and skills. It is also an opportunity to make a friend and bring someone into your corner for the future; you never know when that might come in handy. DO NOT GOSSIP ABOUT YOUR CO-WORKERS… OR YOUR SUPERVISOR. • Gossiping is one of the cardinal sins of office work: Just don’t do it. Whether you are tempted to gossip about your supervisor, co-worker, or the company as a whole, you are not hurting anyone but yourself when you do. 8 • Gossiping can portray you as someone who cannot be trusted or someone who is not a team player, which will not help you reach your professional goals. It can also be harmful if it gets back to the target of the gossip.

MANNERS STILL MATTER: DO’S & DON’TS DO JUMP AT THE CHANCE TO COMPLETE A NEW TASK. • If your supervisor or co-workers ask you to work on a task that you have never worked on in the past, it is natural to feel nervous. But, that is no reason to decline the work. Accepting new projects expands your skillset and can lead to exciting opportunities down the line. • You were likely chosen because they have confidence in your abilities. Just make sure to ask questions, seek advice, and make sure you are on the right track before getting stuck in the task. DO NOT TALK BACK TO YOUR SUPERVISOR. • This bit of advice should probably go without saying, but it is an important one nonetheless. Even if there is not much of an age difference between you and your supervisor, you should never talk back to them. Always show your supervisor respect, and do your part to not be sarcastic or glib. 9 • This is not to say you cannot disagree with them about aspects of the job. You should always feel free to share thoughts or concerns if you have them. But the way that you do this matters.

MANNERS STILL MATTER: DO’S & DON’TS DO BE OPEN-MINDED. • Whether you are taking on new work, building relationships, or advancing in your career, you should do your best to remain open-minded. Nothing is known for certain, and being flexible and open to change will only help you in the long-run. DO NOT FORGET THAT AT WORK SOCIALS, YOU ARE STILL AT WORK. • Company outings can be a great chance to socialize with your co-workers and get to know them outside of their 8 to 5 personas. But it is important not to forget that, while you should be yourself, you are still among office mates who you will be working side-byside with tomorrow. Be especially careful not to overdo it if alcohol is being served. Everyone will know why you “called in sick” the next day. 10

MANNERS STILL MATTER: DO’S & DON’TS DO WEAR A SMILE. • Having a positive attitude about being at work will affect your job performance significantly. Appearing happy, friendly, and approachable at work can do wonders for your career. Never underestimate the power of a smile! DO NOT BE NERVOUS, BUT ALSO DO NOT OVERSTEP YOUR BOUNDARIES. • In the workplace, you will often find yourself walking a fine line in how you present yourself. You want to be respectful, but you do not want to come across as being stuffy; you want to appear confident, but you do not want to overstep your bounds; you want to express your opinions, but you need to keep them G-rated. • Learning the balance will take trial and error on your part, but it is an important balance to learn. 11

WORKSHEET Workplace Scenarios • How an employee should behave at work may vary company to company, but many will have specific guidelines to workplace etiquette and what they expect from their employees. • As you reflect on your own behavior in the workplace, consider the scenarios in the worksheet provided and decide which actions you would take if you were in a similar situation. • To begin the worksheet, click here. 12

WORKPLACE ETIQUETTE SUMMARY Professional etiquette plays a monumental role in making long-lasting, positive impressions. When proper etiquette is used, everyone involved can feel comfortable and working relations will tend to flow smoothly. Furthermore, displaying professional etiquette can give you a competitive edge over those who are not. On the contrary, failing to use the correct etiquette may result in being overlooked for employment or advancement opportunities.

MODULE QUIZ TO BEGIN THE QUIZ, CLICK HERE.

CONGRATU LATIONS! YOU HAVE NOW COMPLETED MODULE 24.