42 Rules For Your First Week

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Agree completely. Dignified reserve is exactly the attitude, too. Well said.

GL H of MN 8:44AM June 16, 2008

I try not to form any alliances for at least the first 6 months. It can take awhile to get the lay of the land, learn the culture, and learn who is who (beyond names). Definitely be careful who you befriend or who befriends you.

AMR of MN 7:42PM June 13, 2008

....be careful who you befriend or who befriends you. At first, it's often the grumblers who hit on the newbies, to get them on their side. Maintain a dignified reserve until you know what's what.

Working Girl of WA 7:04PM June 12, 2008

Might have missed it in the list, but you also have to not give or take personal calls during work hours in the first 30 years or so of employment.
Don't blow up your lunch in the microwave.
Wash dishes you mess up.
Don't hang out chatting at someone else's cubicle - at least until you've put in your full workday.

Conrad of CA 3:13PM June 10, 2008

35 and 36 kind of go together don't they? You also should put number 43 Do not use company postage for your own personal use. I know a gal that did this and oh boy did it hit the fan. I do feel everyone is guilty of alot of these things though, don't you? Maybe these are things we should not do, but everyone is doing it. I know a girl that works in the shipping department for her company and at Xmas time sure saves her family big bucks. She takes their packages that they should be mailing on their own time and at their own expense and mails them right from the company (letting the company foot the bill on the postage and even the fancy packaging). Also 27 and 41 do not make much sense to me either. I feel you can share your politics at work. We were always told to bring at least one personal thing to work...helping our office to feel more homey. I would like to see your office. It is spotless and neatly kept and everything filed the way it is supposed to be? I bet not. What is Tim McGraw doing now days anyway?

Black widow of IA 11:18AM June 10, 2008