Office Supply Etiquette
Just like having a roommate requires certain rules of conduct about sharing the bathroom, kitchen, eating, etc., the cabinet that holds office supplies also has its own set of rules. Breaking these rules can have some very unpleasant consequences, and when you arrive at work one morning, everything on your desk may be super stuck together, making it impossible to get any work done. It’s best to know what the rules are, in case you find yourself in an awkward situation with a coworker regarding who took the last box of paperclips.
Rule #1: Never take more than you need. Sometimes there’s nothing more frustrating than needing liquid paper, finding it all lost in the supply cabinet, and then reporting it to a supervisor, only to discover that the person in the next office has a drawer full when you go ask them. if you can borrow Having more supplies than you need shortens the supply in the cabinet for other employees. It also makes the person ordering the supplies think it is being used up quickly, causing them to order more, spending more company money. If the company is spending a lot of money on office supplies and you’re hoarding liquid paper in a drawer, don’t expect to get a raise.
Rule #2 – If Something’s Gone, Say Something – I know you think your office manager has supernatural powers because somehow they can always catch you watching YouTube videos when you’re supposed to be working. The fact is, your office manager or the person in charge of ordering supplies is probably not a mind reader. If he goes to the supply closet and finds something he needs is missing, to get more, he should report it. If he doesn’t say anything about it, then he can’t complain when the next order arrives without the supplies he needs.
Rule #3: Throw away empty boxes or containers: One of the most frustrating things that can happen in the office is, for example, your highlighter running out of ink, going to the supply closet to get another one, picking up the box that contains, only to find that he is holding an empty box. This is an office no-no. If you grab the last of something in the supply closet, be sure to throw out the box or container that contained it. Not tossing empty containers and boxes in the supply closet gives people false hope. To prevent your office counter from threatening to staple you to your chair, dispose of the box when you grab the last highlighter.
Now that you know how to behave and what to do about the cabinet where office supplies are kept, you should take note. You probably have enough to deal with at work without the person in the next cubicle giving you dirty looks for the eighteen boxes of binder clips you’ve stowed away. Only take what you need, if something is missing tell your supervisor, and always throw away empty boxes or containers. If the office accountant decides to staple you to your chair, it won’t be because you’ve been a fool with the supply closet, it’ll be because he’s crazy.