workplace etiquette

Getting your contract isn’t the end of your attempts to make a good impression. First impressions count and you need to quickly grasp what the established rules are - and as a contractor you are likely to see a diverse range of office politics and workplace standards.

In general, you will probably naturally act as if your parents or grandparents are watching you when you first enter the workplace. But over time you are likely to relax as you get a feeling for what the rules (whether formal or informal) are for things such as appearance, how senior people are addressed, memos, and lunch breaks etc.

You want to avoid scaring yourself rigid about workplace etiquette, but at the same time not be the next hilarious office story when you leave…. “Remember that person that….?”

Follow our simple guide and your first few days should be relatively pain-free.

Workplace ‘rules’

Workplace clothing
Don’t be afraid to ask if you’re unsure what the dress code will be. Be aware that whilst a Ferrari and Rolex may be seen as inspirational to some, others may think that you’re showing off.

Remembering names
You will meet a lot of new people over the course of your contracts, and whilst they won’t expect you to remember names straight away you may find it embarrassing to repeatedly ask them their name – especially if they’re your boss!

Various techniques are advised by people, and you need to find one that works:

Writing a list of people’s names and writing a characteristic about that person.

Rhyming their name to something.

Repeating their name after they have been introduced, e.g. “hi Paul, I’m Terry”.

Ask a colleague who someone is before you have to talk to them, but obviously don’t ask them continuously!

Your rate is between you and your boss
Never, ever, commit the sin of bragging about your rate to your new colleagues. If asked, it is usually better to politely change the subject than create an issue among your work-mates.

The reasons are simple. As a contractor, you will be paid more for various reasons. You may have a particular skill set or experience that the client requires for a short period. Your rate recognises that you have a short-term insecure role, you won’t receive holiday or sick pay, and if you operate through a limited company, your employer won’t have to pay employers national insurance.

Finally, don’t talk continuously about previous achievements.

Office politics
Get any group of people together and there is bound to be conflicts at some point. This isn’t true in just the office; it’s also true at home or amongst friends. So to assume that you will always be able to refuse to be drawn in is unrealistic. It is much better to know how to manage the situation instead.

Try to mitigate the chances of the whispers being about you by producing good work that is recognised as such without you needing to brag about it. It might also be in your interests to identify and get to know the ‘powerful’ people in the organisation (note that this isn’t simply those with seniority, it can extend to anyone who is perceived as having power).

By the same token, try to avoid getting too involved in idle gossip or bad mouth colleagues.

Jokes
It goes without saying that jokes with racial, political or sexist overtones are likely to not go down too well.

Phones
Make sure you are aware of the general rules regarding the use of work phones for personal calls as well as the general rules for mobile phone use. If you’re in a meeting ensure that the phone is switched ‘off’ and not just on vibrate, as the other attendees are still likely to hear it.

Eating
Ideally you want to take a break and eat away from your desk. But if you find that you simply have to eat at your desk, try to keep the desk and floor space around you clean. Avoid strong smelling foods – you may think that they smell delicious, but your colleagues around you might hold a different view.

Office romances
If you embark on an office romance you may need to consider the company’s viewpoint – they may have rules forbidding them. You need to consider how your relationship will change the office dynamics and also need to consider the possible repercussions if you split up. You may only be a short-term worker but the effects of your relationship may be long lasting!

You are also more likely to be caught up in office gossip, so in general don’t discuss your relationship to a colleague, no matter how much of a confidante you believe they will be.

Apologising
Sometimes things go wrong, and sometimes it’s your fault. Learn to apologise gracefully and avoid a hollow “sorry”. If it is genuinely your fault, accept responsibility and explain what steps will be taken to prevent it happening again.