Manners in the workplace?

[Laurajean1014]

What ever happened to manners in the workplace?

I'm in an office, but my report-to's are in cubicles down the hall. Their neighbors are bitter low level managers that listen to everything that goes on in other people's lives.

I even had an employee tell me that when she hung up from talking briefly with her DH, the person in the other cubicle (whom does not report to me), blew kisses and smootchie sounds and said "aw, isn't that so sweet."

Decorum, tact, respect and privacy are a thing of the past.

What a shame.

Any suggestions on asking people without strong character to get one?

 

[Pooh93]

Decorum, tact, respect and privacy are a thing of the past

About a year and a half ago our company moved and when it did went to this "open" environment of cubicles with managers getting"offices" that we refer to as aquariums because that's what they look like. Keep in mind I went from an office with a door at that old site to a medium height cubicle wall. I HATE it and 99% of us feel the same. There is a girl that sits 2 aisles over from me an you can hear anything from how sexy she feels towards her boyfriend to her vacation planning to her obgyn appointments! We have complained repeatedly, but nobody in management seems to want to deal with it! She doesn't even try to quiet her voice! I have a voice that carries as well and make a supreme effort to talk quietly so as people 2 cubicles over can't hear me. Not that my conversations are near as interesting as hers!

As you can tell this is a sore subject with me!!

 

[Minnie824]

On the subject of office manners.....when I first moved to my new cube this older guy was in the one next to me. He was polite and came to say hi and introduce himself. The next day he came and asked to borrow my scissors, so I said sure. He then proceeded to cut his fingernails right in front of me with them! I don't know, but to me that was just kindof gross. I mean, he could at least have gone back to his cube to do it!

 

[PhotobearSam]

Minnie824-

YUCK!!!!!!

I think I would have to disinfect those before using them again. Do you lend him anything anymore?

 

[peg2001]

Minnie,

I think I could have lived with that as long as he didn't follow with his toenails. Ugh.

I used to be in cube-world and would hunt for an unoccupied hard office to make those furtive calls to the OB/GYN, etc.

Peggy

 

[Kermit]

I used to have a cubicle next to a loud woman who spent the whole day on the phone, literally. She had an entry-level job that was very easy, so she could work and talk on the phone all day. I can tell you what she takes for her depression, why her doctor recommended it over Paxil, and why her parents were afraid that her friends would get hammered at her rehersal dinner and embarrass the family in front of the family pastor.

Of course, it's just as rude for people to make comments about calls they can't help but overhear. If people are using the phone appropriately, the people in neighboring cubes should just butt out.

 

[Jenzebelle]

The person I sit next to has phone sex almost every day.

At least that's what we think. What else could you be doing when you're silent on the phone for 2 hrs and occasionally giggles, or says "Oh yeah".

Unfortunately, she also thinks she is the boss and bullies my manager and is pretty much untouchable so we complain and nothing gets done.

 

[tedsmom]

It has always amazed the things people will talk about at work. Imagine having any sort ofpersonal discussion in an open cubicle??? Even if you have a soft speaking voice, anyone walking by can still hear!!!! It's all open around you, for goodness sakes!

 

[doxdogy]

My co-workers and I use to have to listen to every conversation that a co-worker had with her kids, mother, husband. Drove us nuts. She spent more time on the personal calls then on business calls. But, we actually caught her in a lie during one of these conversations.