You get a first-hand look at a colleague’s habits and quirks at work. And not all of us like what we hear, smell and see. An annoying colleague can be subtly distanced, but a rude desk neighbor is much harder to ignore. The crumbs left on our shared desk by a former co-worker will never be forgotten.
“Rude office behavior is insensitive.” It can range from simple ignorance to malicious intent. In open office spaces where it’s impossible to shield yourself from smells and sounds generated by others, rude co-worker behavior can be highly irritating.
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What you find rude can seem perfectly normal to a colleague. It helps to provide concrete examples of impoliteness and disrespect. According to career and etiquette experts, here are the rudest things you can do to the co-worker stuck nearby you. Here’s what they said:
Show Up To Work Sick
Most people are susceptible to getting sick and taking time off. You feel irritated and put off when someone is coughing and sneezing visibly. The act of showing up physically sick at work indicates disrespect for the health and feelings of others.
Leave Your Stuff On Other People’s Desks
Work items and materials should not be moved or stored in the work areas of others due to an attitude that these are all 100% accessible and available. However, they are specifically designated for their use.
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Make Bodily Sounds Or Share Gossip
You may have difficulty concentrating on your work if you hear unwanted sounds from your co-workers. Office gossip and bullying are some examples of malicious co-worker behavior. You can block out unwanted noise with noise-canceling headphones.
Other things to avoid doing in the workplace include: playing music loudly, tuning out people trying to talk to you, treating the shared office space like your kitchen, and barging into a private chat.