Can you use the office printer for personal matters, like printing return labels?
Cutrone: No. Buy a printer with your first paycheck. They cost $149. They’re available at Staples.
Saint John: Absolutely not. Do not use the company printer to print personal things, please. What if you print the wrong thing? Now you’ve got all kinds of personal information out. What if somebody picks it up, you know, mistakenly?
Is it tacky to post about every promotion and professional accomplishment on LinkedIn?
Cutrone: If you’re promoted from an assistant to a junior editor, or from an editor to a director, yes. If you get the bathroom pass for an extra 10 minutes, no.
Saint John: Girl, no. I love that. Go ahead and post every single promotion. I’ve always said that nobody celebrated me until I started celebrating myself. So let the people know you’re doing a great job.
What are your biggest office etiquette no-nos?
Cutrone: Your coworkers aren’t your friends! Do not go out drinking with your coworkers! Pretend your coworkers are your in-laws. Better to say less and do more.
Saint John: Especially in open-concept offices, don’t be too loud! Don’t be a disruption to other people around you. Don’t play your music too loud. Don’t even talk too loud. If you’re taking personal phone calls, take them outside. Just don’t be a distraction to other people.
Email and Zoom Etiquette
Does an 11 p.m. email from your boss warrant an 11 p.m. response?
Cutrone: Technically, no. But most bosses have more than one employee. That boss is gonna remember who responded. If I send an email at 11 o’clock at night, I’m smart enough now to say “for tomorrow,” so my employees don’t have an issue with me from a labor perspective. But I do notice the ones who answer and are like, “Okay, cool, on it, handled,” versus somebody who responds the next morning. The proof is in the pudding. If you’re on a boat in the middle of nowhere, and you have to survive, who are you gonna pick? And that’s what a business is. It’s survival. It’s not a joke.
