A recent report. ‘Etiquette in the Digital Age’, produced by the Post Office, has shown that Britons are relying on text messages and e-mail to get themselves out of sticky situations – with 73% of people admitting to delegating difficult tasks at work by e-mail and text, and 52% using these forms of technology to contact new business prospects.
Respondents admitted to relying on e-mail and texting for a range of awkward workplace tasks, including:
• Delegating tasks – 73%
• Contacting new business prospects – 52%
• Apologising for mistakes - 51%
• Resigning from a job – 13%
• Firing an employee – 2%
Stewart Fox-Mills, head of telephony at the Post Office, points out that
“The past three decades have been a time of increasing informality in the home and in the workplace. This transition to a fast-paced, high-tech existence is exciting but baffling to many people”.He adds:
“What’s more, this is the first time in history that four generations - those who lived through World War II, Baby Boomers, Generation X and Generation Y - are together in the workplace. Each generation’s communication style can differ dramatically and can cause chaos and confusion leading to ramifications of inappropriate behaviour, poor judgment, or cultural insensitivity”.
The report was written by etiquette expert Liz Brewer, whose credits include ITV’s ‘Ladette to Lady’. Brewster says:
“Whenever I am teaching people about etiquette, I always remind them that the key is selecting the appropriate method of communication for the task in hand. If you’re dishing out discipline, it should be face to face, but of course, these days, there’s no need to send a formal letter if you are simply arranging a night out at the pub.”
