EMAIL
| PRINT
| REPORT TYPO
| SEND YOUR FEEDBACK
|

Kira Vermond: Office etiquette can be treacherous
- November 23, 2011 4:39 PM |
- By Kira Vermond
You walk into your company washroom one day and your co-worker's there. She's
got a toothbrush in one hand, a tube of paste in the other. and she's spitting
into the sink.
Brushing teeth at work. Good oral hygiene? Or an office faux pas?

But when it comes to hygiene at the workplace, etiquette can get even trickier.
Hey, what one person calls cleanliness, another calls foul.
Take clipping your nails at your desk. It's been known to happen. And
surveys tell us some people think it's pretty gross.
But what's worse? Not washing your hands after using the toilet. and then
shaking someone's hand.
So there's always a place for some personal care while at work.
The trick is knowing where the line is drawn. And that line does seem to be
getting pushed around a bit these days. More of us are brushing our hair,
washing our faces, putting on deodorant, shaving and, yes, brushing our teeth
while on the job. Some companies even require that employees pull out a
toothbrush before meeting a client.
There's a good reason for all of this. We're spending more time either at
work, or commuting to work. So the office washroom? It becomes our
home-away-from-home bathroom.
Still, we call it "personal care" for a reason. It's supposed to be
private. So what should you know before pulling out the tweezers?
Number one: Get gussied up away from people. That means brushing hair or
putting on deodorant in the washroom, not in your cubical.
The same goes for makeup. That's because using cosmetics is actually one of
the reasons why women's workspaces have three to four times the number of
bacteria in, on, and around their desks than men's.
Number two: If you don't feel comfortable brushing your teeth at work,
drink water, or pop a mint. Your co-workers will thank you.
Number three: Make sure you clean up after yourself. Place a paper towel
beside the sink and rest your toothbrush there. Use plenty of water to rinse
away your spit. And if you have to, wipe out the sink.
Ultimately, hygiene etiquette is dictated by corporate culture. If everyone
else is doing it, it's okay for you too.
But if you're the lone brusher? Just do the job quick - and leave the floss
at home.
Categories
- Andrew Wahl (19)
- Andrew Willis (13)
- Bob LeDrew (10)
- Dan Noel (1)
- David Baskin (18)
- David Berman (1)
- David Colman (14)
- Deborah Yedlin (29)
- Duncan Stewart (29)
- Ellen Roseman (93)
- Jacqueline Drew (10)
- Jim Bray (25)
- Jim Jubak (6)
- John Gilchrist (4)
- Kelly VanBuskirk (6)
- Kira Vermond (75)
- Loraleigh Kovacik (9)
- Michael Hlinka (183)
- Peter Vincent (16)
- Pierre Battah (1)
- Todd Hirsch (1)
All News blogs
Most Commented
Most Recommended
Money Talks
Most Commented
Most Recommended
Recent Entries
- Ellen Roseman: How To Fix OAS
- Prime Minister Stephen Harper set off an alarm last month, when he suggested that Canada couldn't afford to pay Old Age Security benefits for boomers who will be retiring in the next 20 years. Government finance experts were aghast.... Continue reading this post
- Kira Vermond: Humour on the job
- Hey, have you heard the one about the employee with a great sense of humour? Maybe he's on to something. Numerous surveys and studies tell us a good sense of humour is an asset on the job.... Continue reading this post
- Ellen Roseman: Beware of internet scams
- You get an email from your bank, saying your account has been compromised. Do you clink a link to get more information? No way. The email may be from a fraudster and the link may lead to a phony... Continue reading this post