Etiquette School of Ohio

Parking Space Hogs

No one wants to get a dent in their car door from another car door opening. It’s important to be careful when getting in and out of a car so your door does not fly open to hit a neighboring car. This is especially important on windy days or when you are parked on a hill.

What I don’t understand is the need for individuals who use more than one parking space to avoid getting their door dinged. Parking is limited in many areas and using more than your share of parking space is extremely inconsiderate.

Why do some people feel more privileged than others?

Hurray for the parking garages that are beginning to charge these individuals double fees for parking!

Drink Stirrers

The small, thin straws often served in drinks are for stirring not sipping.  After gently stirring the drink without making clinking noises with the ice, discard the stir stick as soon as possible.

If you are seated at a table, place the stir stick on the bread plate.

I have attended many cocktail parties where I have observed someone standing with a drink in one hand while continually stirring the drink to the beat of the music with the other.  Please don’t let me catch you doing this.

How to Serve and Remove Plates

Plates are served from the left and removed from the right.

An easy way to remember this is to think of the direction in which we read. Left to Right.

Do not attempt to touch the plate as it is being served or removed. Doing so may cause spillage. The server is trained to handle the plates appropriately.

How to Eat Oysters

Oysters are typically served on a half shell. They should be served and eaten with a small fork.

If you are in a casual setting at the ocean, you may quietly “slurp” the oyster from the shell. However, even in the casual setting, it is still recommended you use a fork if the oysters are served with one to avoid any mishaps.

Beepers and Pagers

Humans are not supposed to beep or buzz.  Why is it so many people are emitting these noises in public places?  Could it be they have acquired newly attached technical appendages?

We are bombarded with so many unwanted noises on a daily basis.  Please do not add to this list by making everyone listen to your pager to aid your self-importance campaign.

Please silence your pager by programming it to operate in a vibrate mode.

Returning Business Phone Calls

Business phone calls should be returned within the same business day unless advised otherwise.

If you know you will be in a meeting all day or you are working off site for the day and will not have access to your voice messages, leave an announcement telling the caller when they can expect your return call.

My office message may sound like this if I’m in an all day training seminar:

“Hello, you’ve reached the Etiquette School of Ohio and the office of Sandy Hyde.  I will be working off site all day Wednesday, October 24.  Please leave a message and I will return your call the morning of Thursday, October 25.”

If you are on vacation, it is helpful to the caller if you leave the name and number of someone who may help them in your absence.

Dining Etiquette - Sugar Packets

When using a sugar packet to sweeten your beverage, tear the top edge of the packet only 3/4 of the way and place the emptied packet on the edge of your bread plate.

The top of the sugar packet is not torn off completely in order to keep the paper intact for easy disposal and not have little pieces of paper falling on the table.

Complimenting Weight Loss

When someone has lost weight, it’s very easy to say, “Wow!  You’ve lost weight.  You look great!”

Our intentions may have been good in offering a compliment, however, it could make the person feel as though they didn’t look so great before with the weight they were carrying.

Try to limit your remarks to, “You look great”, or “You look fabulous today”.  If the individual wants to share the fact that they lost weight, they may do so at that time.

Office Coffee

Unless making coffee is in a secretary’s job description, he or she is not expected to have coffee ready in the morning or any other time of the day.  It is also not the job of any female employee.

If you desire coffee and there isn’t coffee already warming in the carafe, make it yourself.  If you think others may also enjoy a cup, make enough to share.

If coffee is desired in a meeting, the person who called the meeting should make arrangements in advance.

How to Deal With Homosexuality in the Workplace

Despite a strong movement to dissolve a bias against homosexuals in our country, many companies and individuals still remain closed minded about the topic.

It is in the best interest of both heterosexuals and homosexuals to keep your personal life private and not share information or opinions regarding sexual preferences.

When you’re in a professional setting, keep the conversation professional. What you do in your personal time is your own business.