This just in: roughly 40 million people in today’s work force toil away time in cubeville. So, there’s an excellent chance that your first job out of college will find you in a cubicle, too.
On a typical cubicle farm, there are a lot of little boxes next to other little boxes, with not a lot of room for privacy. And it is this very lack of privacy that makes “cubicle courtesy” so important in the workplace. After all, we can see, hear, and smell just about everything that goes on in the next cubicle…and our neighbors are seeing, hearing, and smelling us. With all that going on, how does anybody ever get their work done?
Well, you don’t have to wait for “Miss Manners” to explain the “do’s” and “don’ts” of open office etiquette. The rules are pretty basic, and most just involve common sense. So think first, then follow these “rules for proper cubiquette”—and encourage your neighbors to do the same.
The most basic rule of cubicle courtesy is to treat the cubicle as though it was an office with walls. “The cubicle walls should establish a “private area” for the employee,” notes Amy Weibel, a cubicle dweller at Marina Maher Communications in New York City. “If you’re approaching someone else’s cubicle, respect that area. Knock gently on the side when trying to get someone’s attention. This gives someone an opportunity to put up a hand or signal that they don’t wish to be bothered. This is a critical courtesy for employees who work on deadline yet don’t have a door to close to signal that they can’t be disturbed.”
“Pretending there are walls” is a good rule of thumb for cubicle dwellers—when you’re outside a neighbor’s cubicle. When you’re inside your own cubicle, however, you should be aware of the sad fact that those walls are only imaginary—and the actual panels that separate cubicles do not provide the privacy that office dwellers have. Here’s a sense-by-sense breakdown of common cubicle complaints, and the common sense “cube-tiquette” solutions:
Noise: Most complaints about cubicle neighbors center on “noise control”. When co-workers sit closely together, it’s hard to avoid all noise concerns, but it’s important to be aware of the people on either side of you. Develop a “telephone voice” so that your conversations aren’t being overheard. Do your best not to listen in to your neighbors’ phone conversations – and if you do hear them, never repeat what you heard. “I had a co-worker who not only listened to my conversationshe’d yell over things for me to say,” Lisa Crowley, an interviewer for a state agency, says. “It wasn’t just unprofessional. It was rude—and it made for an unhappy work relationship.” Personal cell phones should be kept off until break time, and never use a speaker phone—it’s distracting to the entire office.
The problems don’t stop once the phone is hung up. Be conscious when using radios in your cubicle and, if it’s permissible, wear headphones as an act of courtesy to your neighbors. If a family member or friend visits, keep chitchat to a minimum, or take your visitor to the break room to talk. And remember – everyone in the vicinity can hear what you’re saying, so it’s smart to keep conversations about your personal life—or your negative opinion about your new supervisor—to yourself.
But talk isn’t the only noise that “cheapens” the office environment. It seems that some employees make “little sounds” that they aren’t aware of—but their neighbors are. “We used to have an employee who hummed or sang softly to himself all day,” recalls Crowley. “The rest of us would end up playing “Name that Tune” because we were so distracted. It definitely prevented work from getting done.” Other “little noise” offenses include gum-cracking, coffee-slurping, ice-chomping, pen-tapping and, most offensive of all, full-bellied belching. A cubicle is a public area, and those working inside should act as they would in any other public area. If you wouldn’t do it in a fine restaurant, don’t do it in your cubicle.
Smells: After the noise is controlled, it’s time to follow your nose (and be cognizant of your neighbors’ noses). “A major faux pas is applying or wearing too much perfume while in a cubicle environment,” says cubicle dweller Gina Friars. “Cheap cologne or aftershave tends to give those nearby headaches, and even worse, some people have perfume allergies and really suffer from the variety of scents in the air.” Keep your fragrance choices simple, and if a co-worker does suffer from allergies, stick to an after-shower powder.
Just because you’re in your cubicle doesn’t mean you have the freedom to take off your shoes. This looks unprofessional and, even worse, the odor will travel beyond your space. Also remember that the hoagie with garlic and extra onions may smell delicious to you, but it could be turning the stomach of your co-worker. If you must eat pungent food, take it to the lunchroom.
Sights: Cubicle décor should comply with company standards. Remember that not everyone shares your sense of humor, so leave the “joke” posters at home, so you don’t inadvertently offend co-workers or clients.
“Always remember that there is no lock on the door—in fact, by definition, there’s no door!” reporter Kate Rauhauser-Smith points out. That means the cubicle is not the place to store valuables. But that open-door policy doesn’t mean that everything is up for grabs. “My pet peeve is the way people take things from my cubicle without asking,” Friars says. “I have to hide my tape dispenser and stapler in a drawer.” Your neighbor’s cubicle should never be treated like a supply closet.
One last word about sight cube-tiquette—resist glancing into other people’s cubicles as you walk by, and don’t wander in without invitation. The cubicle is someone’s work area, and should be treated as such.
Professionalism and courtesy are the keys to cubicle etiquette, so take time to know your neighbors and their individual preferences. “Knowing your co-workers’ personality types has a lot to do with maintaining a happy close working environment,” says Laura Menard, another cubicle occupant at Marina Maher Communications. “Everyone is different. Being open about the things you need or prefer in a work environment is the most acceptable way to survive those close quarters.”