Your Workplace Etiquette Guide for the Modern Office (Including Remote Work)

While a fine-tuned resume and tangible skillset are always beneficial, they can't replace appropriate workplace etiquette. According to a recent survey, about 40% of business leaders believe recent college graduates are unprepared for the modern workforce. Specifically, they cite that graduates from 2020 through 2023 struggle with work ethic and communication.

However, struggles with modern workplace operations go far beyond these areas. Changes to structures and practices, including video calls, hybrid schedules, and new initiatives, can make etiquette expectations challenging to follow. Nevertheless, it's crucial to understand the best workplace manners and operations based on your office structure.

How Modern Workplace Etiquette and Operations Have Changed

Recently, societal and technological shifts have led many professionals to question how we do business. For instance, offices that don't make employees drive to work every day open up new hiring possibilities while reducing commute time and pollution. 

Some of the most significant changes to modern workplace operations and etiquette include:

• Remote and hybrid work: Many industries now let some employees work entirely or partially from home, depending on specific operations. These arrangements are sometimes negotiable during the hiring process or with current employers, though you should know how to appropriately request hybrid work. 
• Communication: Many organizations now depend on business communication software, including Zoom and Slack, to conduct operations. As such, it's crucial to understand how to use this software and to meet expectations surrounding messages and video calls. 
• Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI): While these initiatives have always been vital to workplace operations, employers have a greater understanding of their importance today. Building an inclusive, respectful work culture goes beyond hiring. Your words and the people you listen to in group meetings can significantly impact your career and culture.  
• Hiring needs: Staffing changes and skills gaps leave many employers struggling to find candidates who meet their lists of needs. As an employee, taking advantage of training programs and volunteering for new responsibilities can result in being considered for more career opportunities. 

While specific practices have changed, workplace etiquette still centers around respect, inclusion, and efficiency. By listening to others, being communicative, and following through on your responsibilities, you can help build a stronger, healthier workplace. Research and practice empathy, time management, communication, and other soft skills to improve your etiquette in the modern office.

Why Is Etiquette Important in the Workplace?

Proper and versatile office etiquette is crucial for your work culture and career. It improves your communication and relationships with coworkers for better collaboration and skill-sharing. Workplace manners also benefit your standing with leadership, business partners, and potential employers, opening up new career opportunities.

Beyond personal considerations, your etiquette impacts your workplace culture and atmosphere. By paying attention to your words, intonations, and colleagues' needs, you can help everyone feel more included and safe. 

Office Etiquette Rules Vary by Workplace Structure

While no two offices have ever been the same, they're even more distinct amid various workplace setups. Even the best employee from an in-person office may struggle to adapt to a fully remote job simply due to the structural differences. 

From communication standards to project workflow expectations, it's critical to understand the etiquette of your specific workplace structure.

Remote Work Etiquette

The etiquette for remote jobs is incredibly different from standard in-person offices and has been refined significantly since the 2010s. Most remote and hybrid workflows depend on business messaging apps, video webinars, and other online platforms with specific functionalities. So, while many etiquette standards apply to all remote workplaces, many operations vary by the software they use. 

Most remote etiquette focuses on handling video calls, chat threads, and other communication channels. Consider the following remote work etiquette tips:

• Be communicative about project updates, especially with collaborators.
• Respond to messages quickly to keep the workflow moving.
• Double-check messages to ensure others read them the way you intend them. 
• Be aware of important meeting details before beginning video calls. 
• Don't fill long pauses in calls with tangent discussions unless appropriate.
• Stay focused and avoid multi-tasking in video meetings.
• Mute your microphone after talking, especially in noisy surroundings. 
• Don't fill important chat threads with casual or minor detail-oriented discussions. Instead, create a separate channel to make the main discussion more digestible. 
• Review remote workplace cybersecurity threats and avoid sending sensitive data over your personal email or other insecure platforms. 

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In-Person Working Etiquette

Even when working in person, you may still need to understand remote workplace etiquette and software operations, depending on your position. Many businesses have adopted remote business software for handling multiple locations, working with partners, and reaching out to clients. 

Outside technological changes, modern in-person work etiquette focuses on new and old office manners, including:

• Make eye contact and be friendly with others.
• Use breaks and lunches to socialize with colleagues.
• Respond to communication promptly, including emails, phone calls, and office questions.
• Respect others' health boundaries, such as by asking a client with a face mask if they'd like you to wear one as well.
• Follow scheduling expectations, including arriving early, and be communicative when running late. 

Hybrid Working Etiquette

Hybrid workplace etiquette combines the modern office and remote practices listed above. As such, hybrid employees must be able to multi-task, adapt to new operations, and stay empathetic to others' needs and emotions. 

Following office manners is especially crucial on in-person days. By being fully attentive and covering multiple in-person tasks at once, you can reassure leadership that your hybrid schedule is efficient and beneficial. In doing so, you may expand the hybrid scheduling possibilities for yourself and others.

Refine Your Office Etiquette With iHire

No matter your industry, your career development doesn't end with your degree or after getting hired. Your career and future opportunities depend significantly on your gained experiences, learned skills, and workplace etiquette. So, as work cultures and structures shift, your practices should, too. Explore iHire's Resource Center for more tips on adapting to the modern workplace.