Your next big job: Defining ‘etiquette’ in the workplace

Earbuds? Yes or no? Hip-huggers? Up or down? Deciding what’s OK at work is a nasty job, but somebody has to do it.

Tell the truth. When you signed on to work in HR, did you expect to have to referee squabbles about whether employees can listen to music while working or how many inches slacks can sling below the hipbone?
A report by NAS Recruitment, an HR-consulting firm,  says that’s exactly what HR managers should be expecting to do now that “Millenials” – the new twentysomethings – are entering the workplace.
And when the Millenials meet the Baby Boomers, the results sometimes aren’t pretty. Here’s where they disagree – the “Three C’s”:
Clothing. Even laid-back Boomers think Millenials have taken “casual” way too far. The sight of skin, straps, and underwear waistbands drives Boomers nuts, while Millenials say it’s their right to be “comfortable” at work.
Communication. No, music-listening accessories aren’t attached to Millenials at birth. It only seems that way. What Boomers think: Anyone who uses earbuds or headphones has no interest in communicating or cooperating.
Culture. “What do we want? Peace! When do we want it? Uh, take your time.” That seems to be the new mantra of Boomers, who these days believe you should build on your accomplishments before you’re rewarded. Millenials tend to say, “Build, shmuild, I want it yesterday.”
Your role
In the middle of all that sits the HR manager trying to get the two sides to work together. Can it be done?
Most managers – HR and otherwise – say the key to success is using performance as your guide. When someone’s ideas about any of the Three C’s tend to hinder the performance of the individual or the group, it’s time to change those ideas.
And by using the performance standard, you and other managers present an irresistible argument: “I don’t care what someone wears or what music someone listens to. All I care about is whether the job gets done.”
The approach won’t necessarily make everyone happy all the time but, hey, even pre-Boomer Abe Lincoln knew better than to try that.
To see the full NAS report, go to: www.nasrecruitment.com/TalentTips/NASinsights/GenerationY.pdf