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Leaving expired food in the fridge, gossiping about co-workers, and taking smoke/vape breaks – are these office habits sackable offences?
Have you ever worked with someone who cooks strong-smelling food in the office, or takes office supplies home?
The Gen Z workforce has come to label office habits they don’t approve of as ‘office icks’.
After all, different colleagues have different personalities, and not everyone is always on the same page regarding appropriate conduct in the office.
As we emphasise respect and inclusion in the workplace, let’s learn more about some common office icks identified by Click Offices, a focus group of office workers, with insights from HR expert, David Rice, from People Managing People.
*While the insights were made against the context of the UK and Ireland, HRO believes they remain relevant to our readership in Asia.
Office ick 1: Taking office supplies home
Some companies may outline what is considered reasonable amount of free office supplies or offer office equipment expenses. Employees should clearly understand what equipment is supplied to them, and what needs to stay in the office. They should also read their contract of employment to understand what equipment must be returned when leaving a role to go to a new job.
Employees would only be dismissed in very extreme circumstances, for example, taking a work laptop home, then handing a notice in and never returning the laptop.
Office ick 2: Cooking strong-smelling food in the office
Some workplaces may advise on what foods they do or don’t want cooked in their kitchens, especially in open plan offices where this can impact the whole office.
Employees most likely can't be fired for this reason, but they should expect a warning if the food is seriously causing disruption and preventing people from doing their jobs.
Office ick 3: Eating other people’s lunch
Though employees can’t be fired for this, but if they are constantly taking food from the communal fridge that isn’t theirs, they can expect a warning as effectively as this is stealing.
There needs to be mutual trust in a workplace, and it’s just pure courtesy that no one takes something that isn't theirs. If someone does and it was by accident, replace it!
Office ick 4: Leaving expired food in the fridge
Similar to heating up smelly foods in the office, employees can’t be fired for this. But leaving expired food sitting in office fridges for weeks unnoticed can cause problems for other people’s food. It shows a lack of consideration for others sharing an office space. Off food could also be a potential health risk to others if left for a long time.
Office ick 5: Gossiping about co-workers
Employees can be fired for this depending on the severity of the ‘gossiping’. Once leadership teams find out this is going on, it needs to be nipped in the bud, as it becomes a disciplinary issue.
It’s important for businesses to instil a culture of openness and transparency, and any sensitive issues must be kept confidential. If cracks start to appear then it needs to be addressed immediately.
In extreme cases, gossiping can result in a termination, especially if it was about a particularly sensitive subject, or veered into the realm of potential bullying.
Office ick 6: Taking loud personal phone calls in working spaces
This can be annoying to other colleagues. Though employees can’t be dismissed for this, they again can expect a warning if they are continuously distracting colleagues.
Companies should provide an environment that enables employees to take regular calls. Senior leadership should address it if that isn’t available.
Office ick 7: Taking smoke/vape breaks
All companies should have a clear policy about smoking and vaping (in countries/regions where vaping is legal) at work, and there needs to be designated areas for employees to do this, and the time allotted.
Depending on the type of work, it might not be suitable to do this at all in the workplace. If employees are continuously breaching this policy, then they can expect a warning or even a dismissal.
Office ick 8: Being asked to promote the company on social media
Forced participation can damage trust amongst employees and lead them to feeling demotivated about wanting to shout about their company’s benefits online.
If the social media account is a personal one, then a company may not have grounds to dismiss an employee for not posting about work, unless it is stipulated in their employment contract.
Office ick 9: People choosing to work whilst sick
There should be no blurred lines here. If an employee is sick, then they should not be expected to work, or engage with anything to do with work. They need time to rest and get better, in order to return to work.
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