Wisdom from the Cubicle Jungle - 4

Businesses have assorted justifications for work cubicles – brainstorm area, space savings, inexpensive production, social accountability, etc. Physically, the cube is a slightly modified version of an elementary school desk. And this description comfortably fits the hierarchical intent and ensuing behavior. The cube dwellers are the incorrigible third graders, and the neighboring office dwellers are the real adults. Born from the careful observations of a novice cube dweller, this series is an attempt to identify the complex rules of the cubicle jungle. Don’t be alarmed if some rules seem contradictory.

16) If you are tragically obligated to cap your lunch at just an hour (supposing your boss is a prude and actually paying attention), you can still overcome the misfortune. A clever cube dweller will spend “lunch” hour screwing around, and after that eat lunch casually at your desk (while on the clock and perhaps with a friend).

17) Because of frequent days off, it’s courteous to begin wishing coworkers a nice weekend as early as Wednesday.

18) If you get bored on your personal phone call, it’s perfectly acceptable to cruise a social networking site simultaneously. Coworkers will be more than impressed with your adept multi-nontasking, and your friend will probably never know.

19) When your boss isn’t in, it’s not a bad idea to chill out in his/her office. The real players will have a friend or friends join him/her and shut the door for more private revelry.

20) It’s polite to talk loudly on the phone. Ideally, you will help fellow cube mates camouflage their overly loud and inappropriate conversations.