WORKPLACE ETHICS: FOUR UNWRITTEN RULES

There is both an official and an unofficial relationship between an employee and their boss. In your official employment contract, you may find information about work hours, acceptable behavior, break times, and other rules that apply to your job and the office as a whole.

It can be difficult to navigate the office's many rules and regulations. What gets you in trouble with HR or the boss isn't stuff like this. These are the kinds of behaviors that will alienate you from your coworkers and force you to work alone.

Try not to take all the glory for yourself

It's common for people to overestimate their value when it comes to a team effort. The person may believe they have made a significant contribution, even though you may think they have done little.

Even if you think you're the one who paved the way, it's still polite to give credit where credit is due. The boss will eventually figure out what's going on, but in the meantime, you'll gain respect as a leader and the admiration of your coworkers.

The rule of never complaining

Every employee has a gripe about their job every once in a while. It's fine and won't cause any alarm if it's minor and infrequent. You should avoid becoming a leader in the chorus of complaints by being a negative person.

You shouldn't force an unwavering positive attitude on people, but you should try to keep a good disposition. It's possible that if one person complains too much, the rest of the group will agree with them, but some of them may be thinking, "If it's so awful, why don't you just leave?"

That's a fair point, and people who constantly whine tend to be labeled as ungrateful. You can't have your coworkers thinking that about you.

Never ignore experience or seniority

Some people settle into a job and refuse to move for a very long time. They could be fairly competent or contribute little to the team. Whatever the case may be, this type of person is a common sight in most workplaces. Even if you're higher up on the corporate food chain, it's important to recognize the value of long-serving employees and treat them with the courtesy they deserve.

Long-term workers are likely to have established networks. They may not be ambitious in terms of advancing in the company or leaving for another position, but they understand their value and can help you avoid major setbacks when necessary.

To sum it up, just be a good person.

The unspoken code of conduct can be summed up as "be a good person who respects other people." The smallest of actions, such as including more people in your lunch invitations or greeting people when you first see them, can have a big impact. A good rule of thumb for behavior is to imagine how you would like your child to act once they have learned manners.

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