Many people have been working remotely for the last nearly two years, and now managers are talking about bringing them back to the office. Naturally, there’s enthusiasm from some and resistance and trepidation from others. How will we handle going back? We’ve been away for so long! What if we forget the rules!?
Well, recent research suggests that some of us have, indeed, forgotten the rules.
Bad habits coming back to work with us
A survey of 2,000 UK and US office workers by workplace management software company Kadence found that people are noticing some off-putting behaviours from their colleagues since returning to the workplace. Among them are not using deodorant, nose picking, loud knuckle cracking, and even smoking while working. Thankfully, these are not the most common bad habits being brought back to the office. The top five bad habits workers have noticed in their colleagues since returning to the office are:
Ignoring colleagues (not realizing they’re being talked to)
Talking out loud to themselves
Swearing
Humming
Burping
We’re not entirely certain these are all new. Doesn’t everyone recall the co-worker who swore, hummed, and talked to themselves before the pandemic? Maybe it was even you.
And it could be worse, in a 2020 survey from Plugable, 17% of respondents admited to drinking alcohol during the workday and 13% reported having sex during work hours. At least these aren’t the behaviours being brought back into the workplace.
Our anxieties around working with others again
When it comes to our own anxieties about re-engaging with co-workers, the survey found that the following are among the biggest concerns:
What to wear every day
Office politics
The commute
Socializing
These are valid concerns. Let’s take a look at how to handle some of them.
1. What to wear every day
If you were hired during the pandemic, have yet to go to the office at all, and are not sure what to wear, the easiest way to know is to ask. Similarly, if you think the rules at an existing job might have changed, perhaps shifted to a more casual dress code, but aren’t sure, ask.
If you’re just concerned that your ability to put together an outfit might be rusty, try going through your closet and pulling out items you used to wear. Make sure they still fit and are in wearable condition. If you have the means, buy some new items to go with the existing ones. Put together a few outfits in advance of your return. It will all come back to you. When in doubt, err on the side of formality. It’s better to be seen as overly respectful than disrespectful. Don’t wear jeans to a more formal meeting where you know other people will be wearing suits.
2. Office politics
Avoid them. If you were the sort of person who was involved in office politics before, start avoiding them now. Be quiet when people are speaking negatively about others, and don’t do it yourself. If you feel like someone is trying to get you to take a side or draw you into a petty squabble, decline. If your workplace is the sort in which it’s impossible to avoid office politics, and/or your career or advancement opportunities depend on getting involved, you might want to consider looking for a different job.
3. The commute
Returning to the commute is not going to be easy. You might have to get up earlier. Plan your route and find fun and interesting ways to entertain yourself on the way. If you’re driving, you might enjoy podcasts and audiobooks. If you’re taking transit, read. If you can’t read while in motion, listen to podcasts and audiobooks. This is actually a great opportunity to listen to and read things that help you learn and grow and that might help advance your career.
4. Socializing
Socializing can be challenging for many people during the most normal of times. If you’ve been living a fairly isolated life, it can be terrifying. There are some basic tips that can make it easier:
Listen more than you talk.
Ask people questions about themselves.
Show a genuine interest in the answers.
Avoid overly controversial topics.
Smile.
Read the room and respond or conduct yourself accordingly.
Stay safe and don’t make others uncomfortable
Regarding COVID-related protocol behaviour, keep your distance. If you’re a close talker, stop it. Stay back. Don’t go for a handshake if you’re not sure it’s expected. Many people probably aren’t doing that right now. Other options include nodding respectfully or touching elbows. You’ll probably be expected to wear a mask in crowded rooms. If an elevator is crowded, wait for the next one or take the stairs. Use hand sanitizer.
The rules haven’t changed much
And when it comes to general office etiquette, again, reading the room is key. Be responsive to other people’s cues.
Most of the old rules still apply; Don’t be noisy in a quiet office. Go into a private room if you’re on a call and everyone can hear you talking. Don’t invite people to a meeting that could have been an email. This has always been a rule, but a lot of people ignored it because they just like having meetings. That’s not acceptable anymore. Just send the email. Don’t eat stinky food at your desk and clean up your dishes in the kitchen – this is even more important than it’s ever been. It used to just be rude and annoying to leave your dirty dishes, but someone conscientious would usually just do them for you. Now, it feels risky to be touching other people’s dishes, so please wash your own.
Finally, this should go without saying, but, apparently, it doesn’t: don’t pick your nose, burp, or smoke in the office. Wait until you get home.
