Brits are usually known for their reserve and politeness, yet in the office six out of ten admit to displaying bad manners on a regular basis

The office can be a stressful, competitive environment, but is this really an excuse to let ourselves slip into bad habits? A 2004 survey by recruitment consultancy Office Angels, reveals that office workers are regularly guilty of the following 'lapses in etiquette', but that in most cases these are unintentional. The worst offenders include:

• Lateness - 63 per cent admit they turn up late for work or meetings at least twice a week wasting other colleague's time
  
• Swearing in the office - 76 per cent say they regularly swear at work but wish they could kick the habit
  
• Ignoring emails - 72 per cent admit to sometimes ignoring 'tricky' or time-consuming emails in the hope that the issue will go away
  
• Answering a mobile or texting during a meeting - 54 per cent are guilty of this, yet nearly all admit they find this extremely rude when colleagues do the same
  
• Chewing gum in meetings - 33 per cent say they chew gum in meetings out of habit
  
• Forgetting to introduce people at a meeting - 28 per cent are guilty of starting a meeting without introducing people, with the majority putting this down to nerves
  
• Not saying hello when passing in the corridor - 19 per cent admit that they have at some time ignored a colleague in the corridor

Why are we such a bad-mannered bunch?
Is there really an excuse for lapses in good manners at work? Pressure at work is the main cause of rudeness, while seven out of ten cite the rise in informal working practices as a contributory factor. The knock-on effect is that three-quarters claim bad manners augment stress levels at work by distracting or offending colleagues or causing them to waste time.

'Today's working environment is both a very informal and a very hectic place' says Paul Jacobs, Managing Director of Office Angels. 'As a result people often forget their manners and overlook proper etiquette such as introducing people at meetings, which can make all the difference to working relationships.'

The impact of manners
Nine out of ten employers say bad manners make a lasting wrong impression and definitely affect their opinion of an employee. Swearing at work was considered the worst example by almost all, followed closely by answering a mobile during a meeting. The majority believe their office would be nicer if people make a concerted effort to improve their behaviour.

Getting out of the bad manners cycle
'Avoiding bad manners at work is such a simple thing to do and can have a dramatic impact on improving your working environment and your relationship with others,' continues Paul Jacobs. 'Manners are an essential part of the image you project at work.'

Keep up appearances

1. Arrive on time - Being late for meetings wastes other people's time and creates a bad impression. If you are going to be late, phone in advance to let people know.
2. Turn that phone off - If you're expecting a very urgent call, ask everyone present if they mind you leaving your phone on.
3. Acknowledge emails - Even if you can't respond immediately, drop them a brief note to let them know their message has been received.
4. Say hello! - You all work in the same place, a quick hello as you walk passed costs nothing.
5. Cut down on the swearing - Swearing tends to engender swearing, so if you make an effort to cut it out, others should follow suit.
6. Make proper introductions - No matter how informal your working environment, making proper introductions ensures everyone knows each other's role in attending the meeting and will help to make it more productive.

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