14 Secrets Your Work Colleagues Desperately Wish They Could Tell You

If I ask you, "Do you want a mint?" every time you enter my office, that's my polite way of saying your breath is less than pleasant

I just haven't figured out how to tell you about your bad breath yet, and I'm trying not to embarrass you or hurt your feelings.

Listen to others when ordering food

If you're going to order food from the new restaurant down the street, ask your team if they want to participate. And make sure you pay for what you ordered; there's seemingly always someone who tries to get out of paying for their portion of the bill.

Don't overdo it

If I sneeze every time you walk by, your perfume or cologne is too strong. The scent can be overpowering, so please dial it back a bit when you're in close quarters.

Follow the golden food rule

If I leave food in the refrigerator with my name on it, it's my lunchnot yours.

And a second rule too

When I'm eating lunch, don't just reach into my bag and help yourself to a handful of my bites. That's rude (and a little gross). If you want a little piece of my cookie or a couple of chips, please just ask.

If you borrow my pen, laptop, iPad, etc., don't forget to return it

Don't make me tape plastic spoons to my office supplies. This is just one of many things you can do to build trust with your colleagues.

Let me know what you think

When I ask for your input on a project, I really value your opinion, and I'm open to hearing some constructive feedback from you.

A friendly bathroom reminder

The bottle of air freshener in the bathroom isn't just a toilet decoration. Enough said. (Brush up on this bathroom etiquette while you're at it.)

While athleisure may be trendy in the fashion world, workout wear isn't appropriate for the office

So leave the yoga pants, sports bras, jogging pants, and gym shorts for the actual gym, and dress in more professional attire.

Help on new projects

In case I haven't already told you, your enthusiasm is refreshing and isn't going unnoticed.

Don't forget about the coffee

Don't leave a quarter inch of coffee in the carafe and assume someone else will make more. Pitch in, brew another pot, and let's keep the java flowing.

Don't dig through my desk when I'm gone for the day

If you're looking for something specific, text or call me. Otherwise, it looks a little suspicious, and I can tell when you've rifled through my things.

Don't take credit for someone else's work

This is toxic coworker behavior: If a team member does well on a project, don't claim their accomplishment as your own. Instead, celebrate with them. This creates positive energy and a better vibe in the workplace.

Bodily noises!!

I beg you: Don't walk in my room and belch (or worse). Sure, I can excuse the occasional bodily noise. But if you're doing it almost every time you're in my office, it's annoying. Say, "Excuse me for a minute," and walk out!

Dogs and kids

If you're going to be bring your dog to work, please make sure they're well behaved and won't be disruptive. (The same kind of goes for your kids.)

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