The Unspoken Rules of the Remote Workplace: Are You Getting Them Right?
Peek into the minds of over 57,000 professionals across 49 countries to see how workplace etiquette has evolved and whether you’re getting it right.
Office life is a fading reality for many of us.
If you’ve seen the US TV show The Office, which depicts office life in the early 2000s, watch it again because it’s getting funnier (and more peculiar) every day.
The quirky office culture portrayed in the show—such as Michael’s barrage of politically incorrect jokes, Jim’s habit of loitering by Pam’s desk to flirt, and Kelly Kapoor’s enthusiastic gossip—reflects our past office lives more accurately than we’d probably like to admit.
These experiences taught us the risks and consequences of mishandling sensitive topics; proved that workplace romances can succeed when clear boundaries are set; and showed us the importance of camaraderie among colleagues.
But what if you’ve never worked in an office setting before and undergone the social conditioning that we ex-office dwellers are still trying to shake?
With the rise of remote work, a significant number of new entrants into the workforce are navigating their careers without ever having set foot in an office. This group has been left to figure out workplace etiquette for themselves, grappling with questions like whether sending a thumbs-up emoji to a manager is appropriate or if mashing potatoes during a work call is simply the norm.
On the flip side, for those location-dependant folk and die-hard in-office CEOs, the world of remote work might seem like an alien universe with zero social cues to follow and a language you simply don’t speak.
But what if there was a way to learn?
Deel’s LinkedIn Poll Trends and Insights on the World of Work Report provides a sneak peek into the minds of over 57,000 professionals across 49 countries from the LinkedIn community. These insights can help you understand the current workplace etiquette, including the latest trends in work habits, digital life, career moves, and workplace do’s and don’ts.
Read the full report here, or read on for a glimpse into some of the findings.
How late is too late to join a call?
Worried you might be pushing your luck when joining a work call late? According to 80% of respondents, being 4 minutes late is considered too late. In fact, the majority, 32%, believe that a delay of two minutes is the maximum acceptable time to join a work call.
Camera on or off?
When joining a call, particularly a large team call, it’s common to see a mix of faces, profile pictures, names, and the occasional avatar. But what’s the norm? In Deel’s report, 36% of respondents said that they always have their camera on, while 10% opt for always off, leaving the remaining 56% chopping and changing depending on how they feel that day.
Ignore or address interruptions during virtual meetings?
Are you still wondering whether that time you ignored the waiter’s order request during a team call reflected poorly on your character? 16% would have told you, “Nah, don’t sweat it, I’d have done the same,” while 24% of respondents would have muted or left the call altogether. However, the majority, 41%, would have briefly addressed the interruption before proceeding. Ah well! At least you know for next time.
Are same-day email replies expected?
Apparently, emails are still a thing. To make matters worse, 52% of senders expect a reply the same day. How presumptuous! That leaves the rest of us lackadaisical loons disappointing our colleagues with every passing day. Feel bad? No, me neither.
Out-of-hours work messages: Save or send?
Deel’s report finds that 9% of respondents won’t hold it against you if you message out-of-hours, while 25% will avoid your message entirely. The majority, however, 52%, will only reply if it’s urgent. But what’s considered urgent, I hear you ask? That’s another question for the poll.
Uncover more of your weird workplace habits with Deel’s full report
Have these insights sparked your curiosity? Perhaps you’d like to know when it's considered acceptable to ask for a promotion after starting a new job, how long the majority of workers plan to stay at their company, or how productive remote workers feel they really are.
Get all of these answers and more in Deel’s LinkedIn Poll Trends and Insights on the World of Work Report.