Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+

Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+

HR practiceOpinion

Bad manners: 10 commandments to guarantee a rude awakening

by Angela O'Connor 24 Jul 2007
by Angela O'Connor 24 Jul 2007

Having experienced a particularly unpleasant journey on the Tube one hot and sticky morning, I complained to a friend, who happens to be the HR director at British Transport Police. We decided to start a campaign to bring good manners back to the transport system.


We listed a few of our top complaints. These included banning those who:




  • eat hot smelly food on the tube


  • need to invest in a good deodorant


  • pretend to be absorbed in a book, but are really ignoring someone who needs a seat


  • don’t know or don’t care that you are forced to share their musical tastes.

Are manners too old-fashioned a concept or an essential part of the make-up of the modern business person? We take the latter view. Without the exercise and the model of good manners in the office, how can we possibly set the tone for an organisation that will treat its customers well?


Here are our 10 commandments for good manners in the business environment:

Thou shalt say thank you


This is the key to developing the right ethos, but only do this for good results. You want the right behaviours repeated. Send thank-you notes or ring someone to express your gratitude.


Thou shalt pay attention


We know there could be someone more interesting over their shoulder, but it would be rude to let your gaze drift around the room. Concentrate on keeping eye contact.


Thou shalt listen


Particularly before speaking. Respect for others is a prerequisite of good manners and there is nothing worse than someone who does not listen. Listening is vital if we want our organisation to listen to its customers.


Thou shalt be punctual


Appreciate the value of time – yours and others’. If you must be late, call first – but don’t make a habit of it.


Thou shalt not act like a pig at events


Don’t speak with your mouth full, pick your ears with your car keys or belch loudly with pride. Inebriated attempts to mate with junior staff at the annual bash are a no-no.


Thou shalt not whinge


Deal with your complaints with others directly and promptly. Be assertive, but do not whine. You will make your colleagues want to poke their eyes out if you’re a constant moaning Minnie.


Thou shalt not be interrupted


Do not allow one-to-one meetings to be interrupted by texts, glances at your BlackBerry, phone calls or people putting their heads round the door to say hello. You will irritate your people, who will feel disrespected by your rudeness.


Thou shalt not grab all the perks


Just because you are the more senior person doesn’t mean you deserve the business trip to a sunny place, or the chance to shine at the board meeting. Let your staff know the good times too. Sharing is good for you.


Thou shalt not tolerate bad manners


Without the sense that there are some rules, there cannot be agreement about decent behaviour. We all need to take responsibility for our own behaviour and that of our employees, and that means challenges when the rules are breached.


Thou shalt lead by example


If you are attempting to bring good manners into your workplace, you must first do what you ask of your employees, by:




  • improving the image of your business


  • strengthening working relationships


  • developing employee confidence and effectiveness


  • enhancing communications with clients and customers


  • increasing productivity.

The added bonus is that the workplace becomes a more pleasant place to be.


Now, back to plans to sort out my fellow Tube travellers.


By Angela O’Connor, chief people officer, National Policing Improvement Agency


Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance

Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday

OptOut
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Have your say


Any bad manners in your workplace that you can’t tolerate? E-mail [email protected]

Angela O'Connor

previous post
Truck driver Ron Ellis wins £28,000 after being sacked for opposing working excessive hours
next post
Anti-malarial vaccination is a myth and does not exist

You may also like

Culture, ‘micro-incivilities’ and invisible talent

14 May 2025

Rethinking talent: Who was never considered in the...

7 May 2025

Eight ways to best support grieving employees

6 May 2025

Leading with honest feedback: A responsibility in recruitment

24 Apr 2025

Exploring the best London office locations for ‘Zillennials’

16 Apr 2025

Remote working isn’t bad – it just needs...

1 Apr 2025

What do HR specialists enjoy most about their...

21 Mar 2025

Sexual harassment: Employees have the right to protection...

18 Mar 2025

Workspace flexibility: Optimising your office needs for purpose

11 Mar 2025

Should HR worry about idea theft in the...

11 Mar 2025

  • 2025 Employee Communications Report PROMOTED | HR and leadership...Read more
  • The Majority of Employees Have Their Eyes on Their Next Move PROMOTED | A staggering 65%...Read more
  • Prioritising performance management: Strategies for success (webinar) WEBINAR | In today’s fast-paced...Read more
  • Self-Leadership: The Key to Successful Organisations PROMOTED | Eletive is helping businesses...Read more
  • Retaining Female Talent: Four Ways to Reduce Workplace Drop Out PROMOTED | International Women’s Day...Read more

Personnel Today Jobs
 

Search Jobs

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2025

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2025 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+