Etiquette School of Ohio

Punctuality On the Job

An employer expects employees to be at work on time. If you are scheduled to start at 8:00 am, you should be at your position at that time or preferably a few minutes before.

Many employees take the liberty of hanging around the coffee pot and catching up on the previous night’s happenings. Only do so if it is before your start time. Once you are on the schedule, it is the employer’s time, not your time.

Management does take punctuality into consideration when making a decision for a promotion.

Recent college graduates need to take note of this if they want to advance in their careers.

Body Piercings in the Office

Many recent college graduates will be interviewing for jobs and starting their careers this month.

Many of these college graduates have body piercings considered to be in and hip amongst their generation and college friends.  However, many employers may not share the same feelings for body piercings in a professional environment.

If you have a body piercing you’re not sure would be appropriate at the office, cover it up or remove it while you’re in a professional setting.

You may want to read the employee handbook to see if there are any written policies for body piercings.  However, it is most important to observe your supervisors to see if they are donning such body embellishments.  If not, don’t push the issue even if it is allowed according to the employee handbook.  The handbook does not make career advancement decisions.

Announcing Summer 2008 Etiquette Classes

Etiquette School of Ohio

Now Accepting Enrollment for Summer Dining Etiquette Classes:

June 16 – 21

July 14 – 19

August 11 – 16

Age Groups: 1^st – 5^th grades 11:30 - 12:30 and 6^th – 9^th grades 2:30 - 3:30

Six one-hour class sessions include:

• Introductions
• Proper Use of the Knife, Fork, and Spoon
• American and Continental Dining Styles
• Posture at the Table
• Appropriate Dinner Conversation
• Telephone Skills
• Short Speaking Presentation
• Elegant 5-Course Dining at the Country Club of the North
• Review and Discussion with the Parents

Food is served at 5 classes. Class size limited.

Etiquette School of Ohio President and Founder, Sandy Hyde, is a former Mrs. Ohio USA and a graduate of the American School of Protocol.

937-469-4800

sandy@etiquetteschoolofohio.com

When To Mail Wedding Invitations

Wedding invitations should be mailed six weeks before the wedding.  If there will be a significant number of out-of-town guests, or the wedding is being held over a holiday weekend, mail the invitations eight weeks in advance to allow guests to make arrangements.

Guests should not receive invitations any later than four weeks prior to the wedding.  A personal invitation would be most appropriate at this time.

Forgot Your Business Cards?

You should always have your business cards with you.  But what should you do if you just received a business card and you either ran out of yours or do not have them with you?

Thank the other person for their card and tell them you will forward your contact information to them.

Then, within 48 hours, 24 hours is preferred, follow-up by sending them written correspondence which includes your business card.

If you do not follow-up with this person, they may think you are not interested in building a business relationship with them and may damage any future opportunities you may have with them.

How To Reply To A Toast

If you are the person being toasted, do not raise or drink from your glass. Doing so would be the same as applauding yourself or singing “For He’s A Jolly Good Fella” to yourself.

After the toast has been completed, the individual being toasted may raise their glass and say thank you and if they choose, propose a toast to others.

Graduation Party Invitations

If you are planning a graduation party, invitations should be sent at least three weeks prior to the party. Since most graduation parties are informal, these invitations can be found at any store specializing in stationery.

Be sure to write who the party is in honor of on the invitation if a space is not provided for this information.

You may also want to write R.S.V.P. along with your telephone number at the bottom of the invitation to make it easy for guests to respond. Another option is to write regrets only rather than ask everyone to respond.

There are very few rules for graduation parties. Make the event whatever you want it to be. It can be as informal as a picnic in the park or as formal as renting a banquet hall for a dinner dance.

One rule you must follow - never send your invitations before you are 100 percent certain you will graduate.

Flag Etiquette - Displaying the Flag on Memorial Day

When displaying the flag on Memorial Day, it is to remain at half staff until noon and then moved to full staff until sunset.

Business Golf Etiquette - Who Pays?

When participating in a business golf outing, the person who extended the invitation, (the host), picks up the tab.

Graduation Gifts

If you are invited to a graduation ceremony or party, you should bring or send a gift to the graduate. It is most appropriate to give the gift on the day of the graduation or party or shortly before or after.

If you cannot attend either event, a floral or balloon arrangement, or greeting card sent to the graduate lets them know you are thinking of them.

A graduation announcement is not the same as an invitation and does not require a gift.