Greeting at the workplace: Are young employees clueless?
Apr 06, 2010
Hey nigger,†Ernest, a young graduate working with a law firm, greeted his colleague at the reception. A few meters away as he climbed the stairs to his desk he met another colleague and said: “Hey Lil, you cool, bonga koâ€.
By Arthur Baguma
Hey nigger,†Ernest, a young graduate working with a law firm, greeted his colleague at the reception. A few meters away as he climbed the stairs to his desk he met another colleague and said: “Hey Lil, you cool, bonga koâ€.
Before he could reach his desk, he met Gladys, the office administrator who is a mother to children who are Ernest’s age, he greeted her with a pat on the back: “What’s up, hope your night was kaawa.†The old lady literally stared at the young man and walked off.
Ernest, a fresh graduate belongs to what Joan who started work in 1988 at the same organisation calls the Generation-x employees.
Joan says most of the Generation-x employees who have just started to work lack the basic greeting etiquette at the workplace.
“In universities they are not taught about the basic, everyday behaviour. This seems to be a big issue in many workplaces,†Joan observes.
Bob, a middle manager with a media consultancy firm, agrees that lack of correct workplace greeting etiquette has always been an issue with young workers.
He says one of the worst office habits by the young graduates, is sending abbreviated words in emails or any official communication. “ This does not really go down well with people from any other generation,†Bob adds.
Henry Musoke, a human resource consultant notes that in today’s workplaces many people, particularly Generation-X, are more likely to communicate with a colleague who is two desks away by email rather than getting up from their desk and give the message in person.
It is a trend many employers do not like. “There is no replacement for face-to-face interaction,†Musoke says.
When chatting to someone, do not lean in too close. Musoke says personal space is an issue of concern regularly raised in his workplace etiquette seminars.
“Some people are just not comfortable speaking too closely to someone,†he adds.
The walk-by hello
When workers walk around the office to go to the bathroom or kitchen, should they always greet the people they pass? Work etiquette experts say it is polite to do so, adding that office hallways are a great way to socialise and also have informal meetings.
These days, workplaces are designed in a way that people have to bump into each other occasionally. There are several ways you can formally relate to colleagues at work regardless of their positions, age or background and you do not seem to offend any one.
The Handshake
A handshake is the most common form of greeting among people and is customary when you are introduced to somebody new.
A simple hi, if you are in a hurry can be used in place of a handshake.
Formal greetings
The usual formal greeting is a ‘How do you do?’ and a firm handshake, but with a lighter touch between men and women. ‘How do you do?’ is a greeting not a question and the correct response is to say: ‘How do you do?’ You say this when shaking hands with someone.
‘How are you?’ is a question and the most common and polite response is ‘I am fine thank you and you?’ You can use: ‘Nice to meet you’, ‘Delighted to meet you’, ‘Good Morning’ or ‘Good Afternoon’.
Hey nigger,†Ernest, a young graduate working with a law firm, greeted his colleague at the reception. A few meters away as he climbed the stairs to his desk he met another colleague and said: “Hey Lil, you cool, bonga koâ€.
Before he could reach his desk, he met Gladys, the office administrator who is a mother to children who are Ernest’s age, he greeted her with a pat on the back: “What’s up, hope your night was kaawa.†The old lady literally stared at the young man and walked off.
Ernest, a fresh graduate belongs to what Joan who started work in 1988 at the same organisation calls the Generation-x employees.
Joan says most of the Generation-x employees who have just started to work lack the basic greeting etiquette at the workplace.
“In universities they are not taught about the basic, everyday behaviour. This seems to be a big issue in many workplaces,†Joan observes.
Bob, a middle manager with a media consultancy firm, agrees that lack of correct workplace greeting etiquette has always been an issue with young workers.
He says one of the worst office habits by the young graduates, is sending abbreviated words in emails or any official communication. “ This does not really go down well with people from any other generation,†Bob adds.
Henry Musoke, a human resource consultant notes that in today’s workplaces many people, particularly Generation-X, are more likely to communicate with a colleague who is two desks away by email rather than getting up from their desk and give the message in person.
It is a trend many employers do not like. “There is no replacement for face-to-face interaction,†Musoke says.
When chatting to someone, do not lean in too close. Musoke says personal space is an issue of concern regularly raised in his workplace etiquette seminars.
“Some people are just not comfortable speaking too closely to someone,†he adds.
The walk-by hello
When workers walk around the office to go to the bathroom or kitchen, should they always greet the people they pass? Work etiquette experts say it is polite to do so, adding that office hallways are a great way to socialise and also have informal meetings.
These days, workplaces are designed in a way that people have to bump into each other occasionally. There are several ways you can formally relate to colleagues at work regardless of their positions, age or background and you do not seem to offend any one.
The Handshake
A handshake is the most common form of greeting among people and is customary when you are introduced to somebody new.
A simple hi, if you are in a hurry can be used in place of a handshake.
Formal greetings
The usual formal greeting is a ‘How do you do?’ and a firm handshake, but with a lighter touch between men and women. ‘How do you do?’ is a greeting not a question and the correct response is to say: ‘How do you do?’ You say this when shaking hands with someone.
‘How are you?’ is a question and the most common and polite response is ‘I am fine thank you and you?’ You can use: ‘Nice to meet you’, ‘Delighted to meet you’, ‘Good Morning’ or ‘Good Afternoon’.